The attorney for the former University of Southern California campus gynecologist charged with sexual assault argued Monday his client is suffering from heart problems and diabetes and should be allowed to post bail.
Dr. George Tyndall, 72, appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court on 29 felony charges that could send him to prison for 53 years. Prosecutors say 16 patients ranging from 17 to 29 were abused during visits to the student health center for annual exams or other treatment.
Tyndall is being held on $2,075,000 bail in the Twin Towers Correctional Facility’s medical unit after spending several days in the hospital following his Wednesday arrest. Tyndall’s lawyer, Andrew Flier, entered a not-guilty plea for his client during the arraignment.
Flier said his client is neither a flight risk nor a danger to himself or anyone else. A bail review hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.
Allegations against the doctor first surfaced in May 2018; authorities say they may file additional charges as they continue to talk to former patients.
In the past year, more than 380 women have reported misconduct by Tyndall, authorities said. Some of the cases fell outside the 10-year statute of limitations, while others did not rise to the level of criminal charges or lacked sufficient evidence to prosecute.
More than 700 women have filed lawsuits in state court against the doctor and USC. A separate $215 million federal class-action settlement that could potentially include thousands of payouts is in the works.
Flier said his client never conducted exams without a chaperone and never touched anyone inappropriately.
“None of this ever happened,” he said in a news conference after the arraignment. “We hear 100, 200, 400 complaining witnesses. Well, without minimizing the number, we’re down to 16.”
Flier said his client has been threatened and was carrying a loaded revolver at the time of his arrest for protection.