Famed producer Eric Weinberg faces life in sexual assault trial

“Scrubs” producer Eric Weinberg’s attorneys will argue that his behavior may have been “distasteful” and “creepy” but not illegal when his long-awaited rape trial starts today.

Weinberg, 66 – who produced almost 100 episodes of “Scrubs” and wrote for the hit show “Californication” starring David Duchovny – is accused of luring women to his home for photo shoots between 2014 and 2019 and sexually assaulting them.

His high-profile defense team, led by attorney Philip Cohen, will argue that although some of Weinberg’s actions were at times creepy, distasteful and even unlikeable, ultimately they weren’t against the law.

During the producer’s preliminary hearing, nine Jane Does testified that they agreed to meet Weinberg at his home after he approached them or connected with them through modeling websites.

Once at his home, Weinberg would take photos of the women in various stages of undress, they testified.

The women claimed some of the photo shoots turned sexual without their consent.

He faces 23 charges, including sexual battery and forcible rape.

But Weinberg claims all the encounters were consensual, based on the women’s conduct, words and actions, according to his defense team.

Weinberg’s attorney, Robin Sax, has claimed the rape prosecution only gained momentum during his contentious divorce from his now ex-wife, Hilary Bidwell.

Documents filed during Weinberg’s divorce and child custody proceedings alleged that he sexually assaulted three women during photo shoots.

“It was part of a contentious, many year divorce case with many attempts by Ms Bidwell, to gain full custody,” Sax said during the preliminary hearing.

Bidwell hired a private investigator to determine whether Weinberg was cheating during their marriage and to track down the accusers in an attempt to strengthen her custody case, Sax told the judge.

“Had he stopped fighting the family law case, we probably wouldn’t be here, in my view,” Sax stated in court.

Weinberg was arrested in October 2022 and initially freed on $5 million bail.

His bail was revoked by a judge later that month after he was slapped with additional charges. He’s been in LA County Jail ever since.

The case took a dramatic turn this week when prosecutors dropped five charges related to one Jane Doe who had claimed she was assaulted in 2018.

Weinberg will face a jury of eight men and four women in Downtown Los Angeles.

He faces life in prison if convicted.

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