A former campus gynecologist at the University of Southern California was charged Wednesday in the sexual assaults of 16 patients at the campus student health center, authorities said.
Dr. George Tyndall has been the subject of a Los Angeles police investigation for more than a year after patients claimed sexual abuse or harassment by the gynecologist.
The patients involved in the charges ranged in age from 17 to 29 and had visited the student health center for annual exams or other treatment, the district attorney’s office said.
Tyndall, 72, has denied any wrongdoing. He could face up to 53 years in prison if convicted.
He was arrested and charged with 29 felonies, including 18 counts of sexual penetration and 11 counts of sexual battery by fraud. Prosecutors recommend bail of about $2 million; arraignment has not been scheduled.
Prosecutors say police presented reports on 134 alleged crimes and the investigation is continuing.
Greg Risling, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, declined to provide further details, saying the investigation is ongoing.
Tyndall’s medical license has been suspended since 2018 and he is not allowed to practice medicine, according to the state medical board’s website.
More than 700 women are pursuing individual claims against the doctor and university in state court. Separately, USC has agreed to a $215 million class-action settlement with former patients.
Interim USC President Wanda M. Austin said the university has cooperated with authorities.
“We care deeply about our community and our top priority continues to be the well-being of our students, health center patients and university community,” Austin said. “We hope this arrest will be a healing step.”
Andrew Flier, one of Tyndall’s lawyers, said he and his client were upset that police did not give them a chance to surrender before making the arrest.
Flier said he did not have information about the specific allegations against his client or where he was taken into custody.
“We are very much looking forward to adjudicating this case in a courtroom because of this character assassination,” Flier said. “We’re going to be able to punch some serious holes in all these allegations.”
John Manly, an attorney who represents about 200 of the patients who have sued USC, said his clients were gratified to hear Tyndall has been arrested and hope the university also will be investigated.
He said his clients were frustrated it took so long for Tyndall to be arrested.
“It’s reinforcing,” he said. “It seems like the system could work.”
