The legend of Motown Smokey Robinson is under a criminal investigation in Los Angeles for charges of sexual assault.
The Sheriff’s Department of the County of Los Angeles confirmed that it had launched an official investigation into allegations, saying that the probe was in the “early stadiums”.
The investigation comes after a trial was filed last week by four anonymous governors against the 85-year-old singer-songwriter, accusing him, sexual imprisonment, false pain, negligence and gender violence.
Mr. Robinson denied allegations. His lawyer said that those behind the accusations were after the musician’s money, and he welcomed the police investigation “because the exhibition to the truth is a powerful thing.”
“We are convinced that determination will be made that Mr. Robinson has done nothing wrong, and that it is a desperate attempt to prejudge public opinion and make even more than a media circus that the complainants have previously been able to create,” said the lawyer, Christopher Frost, in a declaration to the BBC.
He argued that the police investigation was only opened because the complainants had submitted an official relationship with their allegations and declared that the allegations were “made” and designed to “tarnish the good names” of the musician and his wife, who is also appointed in the trial and accused of having contributed to a hostile work environment.
The Sheriff department told the BBC in a statement that its special victims’ office “actively investigated criminal allegations involving William Robinson Aka” Smokey Robinson “. The investigation is at the first stadiums and we have no comments.”
The women filed a complaint at the Los Angeles Superior Court on May 6 by virtue of the Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4 pseudonyms.
In 27 -page legal action, they allege several incidents that said dated 2006 and accuse Mr. Robinson of putting them pressure on sex.
The four women, who are of Hispanic origin, said that they have not come forward so far because they feared losing their livelihoods, their family reprisals or their embarrassment. Some feared that allegations affect their immigration status.
They are looking for at least $ 50 million (38 million pounds sterling) in damages with jury.
Mr. Robinson was Motown’s first hitmaker, writing number one records like My Guy by Mary Wells and My Temptations.
He was both a talented scout for the label and one of his most important full -fledged recording artists, known for songs like pieces of tears, purchases and tears of a clown.
He has spots at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the temple of renown of the songwriters, and claims to have credits on more than 4,000 songs.
Women’s lawyers held a press conference last week after having filed the trial, accusing Mr. Robinson of being a “serial and sick rapist” who “must be arrested”.
Mr. Robinson’s legal team described the event as a bizarre “attempt” to enlist the public as an involuntary participant in the media circus they are trying to create “.
“We will have more to say in the coming days when we make our legal response, and over time, Mr. Robinson will answer in his own words,” said Mr. Frost, noting that the musician’s legal team plans to request that the case be rejected.
“We ask anyone who follows this case to reserve the judgment because the evidence is revealed and all the real facts of the case take place.”
