George Tyndall, a former gynecologist at the University of Southern California who sexually abused students for decades, has been charged with 18 counts of sexual penetration and 11 counts of sexual battery by fraud.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office confirmed the charges on Wednesday, validating that Tyndall sexually assaulted 16 young women who went to the campus health center for annual exams or for other treatments between 2009 and 2016.
LAPD arrested Dr. George Tyndall, former USC gynecologist, this morning. The DA's office says he was charged today with sexually assaulting 16 young women. USC just released this statement. https://t.co/6zC4tFCM49 pic.twitter.com/GGr9dG8ySP
— Cory Minderhout (@CoryMinderhout) June 26, 2019
Tyndall was taken into custody by the Los Angeles Police Department on Wednesday morning. He was later admitted to a hospital after complaining about chest pain.
If convicted, Tyndall faces a possible maximum sentence of 53 years in state prison. Meanwhile, prosecutors have recommended that his bail be set at $2.075 million.
Last year, the university agreed to settle a lawsuit for $215 million as a result of a legal battle waged by more than 650 former students. The students alleged the school of ignoring their complaints against the former doctor.
The lawsuit also accused the school of allowing Tyndall to resign quietly with a financial settlement in June 2017 after an internal probe found him guilty of inappropriately touching the genitals of patients.
Meanwhile, Tyndall has continued to maintain his innocence and has claimed that his conduct was within ethical medical practices.
“After a year of being tried in the press, Dr. Tyndall looks forward to finally having his case adjudicated in a court of law,” Leonard Levine, Tyndall’s attorney, told CNN. “He remains confident that he will be totally exonerated.”