Updated, 16:08: More than two months after Jeffrey Cooper was found guilty of three counts of child abuse by a Los Angeles jury, theatrical architect and former member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was convicted today.
Cooper, 70, a member of AMPAS since 2002, was sentenced to eight years in prison at the Van Nuys court hearing. You will also be officially registered as a sex offender. Almost simultaneously, two of Cooper’s accusers filed a civil suit against him for “personal injuries and damages resulting from child sexual abuse.”
Charged with sexually abusing two underage children, Cooper was first arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies in 2018. In May, a jury found guilty of three counts of obscene and obscene conduct in the second girl’s case, which hit a dead end. Cooper, who wore a blue prison jumpsuit at today’s hearing in the Los Angeles Superior Court, has been in custody since his sentence on May 20.
“Children are the most vulnerable members of our society,” Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon said after Monday’s sentencing hearing. Said. “Aton. Cooper abused a position of trust and inflicted unbelievable harm to a helpless victim. I know nothing can undo the trauma they went through, but I hope the victims can find peace and healing now that this criminal case is over.”
Sources told me that Cooper’s status within the Oscar organization will be discussed soon, as he is still a member of AMPAS. The ruling against Cooper represents a clear violation of the academy’s standards of conduct, and the group’s board of directors will meet early next month to make the final decision on Cooper’s first job.
AMPAS did not respond to Cooper’s request for a decision today.
At the beginning of May 22: Architect Jeff Cooper, known for his film and studio designs for the likes of George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, was found guilty of three separate forms of child abuse.
The jury delivered their verdict on Friday, after a two-week hearing in the Los Angeles Superior Court in Van Nuys. The verdicts came four years after Cooper was arrested and charged by a grand jury on eight counts, including two children.
On Friday, the jury at the trial convicted one of the defendants, including a child, on three counts of gross indecency. However, the jurors were unable to reach a verdict on the five charges, including the other defendants. Judge Alan Schneider declared a false judgment on these charges.
Cooper’s work as an architect includes the design of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Theater, as well as more than two dozen mixing studios that have produced Academy Award nominees, according to the business website.
The sentence is scheduled for June 1, and Cooper faces up to 12 years in prison. He’s being held without bail after a judge called him a flight risk. Cooper is free on $5 million bonds.
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Special Victims Office arrested Cooper in June 2018. According to court records, the 66-year-old architect was charged with child abuse. The events would have occurred between November 2006 and November 2007 for one victim and between January 2012 and July 2016 for the other. The two defendants are currently 16 and 28 years old.
The deadline reached Cooper’s attorney, Alan Jackson, but he did not respond immediately.
“Frankly, the families are disappointed that the jury did not convict one of the victims, but they are very happy to at least see a jury for the other victim,” said Dave Ring, attorney for the two defendants and their families. speaking to the Los Angeles Times. It was incredibly satisfying for them to see Cooper immediately arrested for his actions. They’ve been through hell for the last four years.
Cooper became a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2002.
“The Academy is aware of the alleged appalling behavior and is addressing the issue in accordance with our standards of conduct and due process requirements under the California Nonprofit Act.” “Under our rules, we will have grounds to deport any member convicted of a violent crime,” the organization said in a statement before the hearing.
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
