Smokey Robinson under criminal investigation for 'sex attacks'
Music legend Smokey Robinson, 85, is now facing a criminal probe into the sexual assault and rape allegations levied against him in a civil lawsuit filed by four of his former employees. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department released a statement on Thursday confirming the Special Victims Bureau was 'actively investigating criminal allegations' involving the Motown star. The department added that the investigation was in the 'early stages' and didn't provide further information on the case. The criminal probe comes after four women, all identified as 'Jane Doe' in the lawsuit, alleged that Robinson had committed a slew of sick acts against them including rape, sexual battery, and false imprisonment. The plaintiffs sued for $50 million in damages for each of the 11 allegations listed against Robinson. The suit also named Robinson's wife, Frances, alleging that she knew about the abuse and failed to protect the women. In response to the criminal investigation, the couple's lawyer, Christopher Frost, said in a statement that the department was required to investigate the allegations as a plaintiff had filed a police report 'only after they filed' the civil suit. 'We feel confident that a determination will be made that Mr. Robinson did nothing wrong, and that this is a desperate attempt to prejudice public opinion and make even more of a media circus than the plaintiffs were previously able to create,' the statement continued. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced on Thursday that a criminal investigation was launched into sexual assault allegations against Motown singer Smokey Robinson, 85 The criminal investigation comes after four of Robinson's former employees alleged in a civil suit that the singer assaulted them, and his wife, Frances (pictured), knew of the assaults and didn't stop her husband's behavior Robinson's attorney released a statement after the investigation was announced, maintaining that his client 'did nothing wrong' 'The record will ultimately demonstrate that this is nothing more than a manufactured lawsuit intended to tarnish the good names of Smokey and Frances Robinson, for no other reason than unadulterated avarice.'The lawyers for the unnamed plaintiffs praised the investigation into their clients' allegations. 'Our clients intend to fully cooperate with LASD’s ongoing investigation in the pursuit of seeking justice for themselves and others that may have been similarly assaulted by him,' attorneys John Harris and Herbert Hayden said in a statement. The civil suit was filed by four women who worked as housekeepers for Robinson at his Chatsworth, Los Angeles mansion between 2007 and 2024. The women alleged Robinson would lure them to his bedroom or rooms without surveillance cameras and would place a towel on his bed before 'raping' and 'humiliating' them. One accuser claimed that the Motown singer raped her at least 23 times and would 'enjoy ejaculating all over (her) face'.Another accuser alleged Robinson raped her at least seven times between January 2023 and February 2024. The third accuser claimed she was raped at least 20 times in 12 years and he even offered her $500 to 'allow him to orally copulate her.' The allegations come as Robinson embarked on a tour to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his hit album, A Quiet Storm. He's long been regarded as a Motown legend, pictured here in the 1960s with his group, The Miracles The civil lawsuit alleged a pattern of disturbing behavior, claiming Robinson assaulted multiple of his female employees. Allegations included rape, sexual battery, and false imprisonment Read More Smokey Robinson responds to sexual assault allegations with blistering three-word response The last accuser noted a similar pattern of abuse, with one woman stating she even tried to deter Robinson on one occasion by shouting, 'you're married.'The lawsuit claimed that Robinson's wife would go to the nail salon on Saturdays, leaving the women alone with him and resulting in the abuse. Frances was also accused of perpetuating a 'hostile work environment' by screaming at one of the women and using 'ethnically pejorative words and language.' The couple faced allegations that they failed to pay housekeepers a living wage and didn't pay overtime. The women claimed the assaults led them to quit and didn't report Robinson's alleged behavior out of fear of retaliation. When asked for comment on the lawsuit, Robinson previously told DailyMail.com, 'I am appalled.' The allegations come as Robinson embarked on a tour to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his hit album, A Quiet Storm.
