OSCAR WINNER CHARGED WITH RAPE

The Oscar-winning composer of the 1970s Debbie Boone hit You Light Up My Life has been charged with raping 11 women by luring them to his casting couch.
James Brooks, 71, who wrote and directed the 1977 film of the same name advertised on online classifieds site Craigslist and talent sites for would-be actresses.
When they arrived at his New York flat – usually from the West coast so they would be tired from travelling, he plied them with wine and told them they were auditioning for the role of a prostitute.
If they did not go along he put his Academy Award into their hands to give them an extra push, authorities charge.
New York Police Department Lt Adam Lamboy quoted him as saying: “This could be you. This could be you holding the Oscar. I could make you a star.”
Brooks, who turned himself to face 82 counts of rape, sexual assault and other charges, and is free on $500,000 bail, allegedly used his 42-year-old woman assistant, Shawni Lucier, to help him choose his victims.
His adverts said: “We are looking to have someone who we want to turn into a star,” according to prosecutor Lisa Friel.
They said an unnamed “Oscar award-winning composer” was looking for a beautiful young girl between 18 and 22 to turn into a “new face”
When the women, aged between 18 and 30, replied to the adverts, prosecutors allege Lucier helped pick out the victims.
“She set up their travel arrangements,” said Friel. “She assured them there was a real project going on. Some of them she actually drove to the apartment.
“Some of them said she was actually in the apartment to make them feel comfortable at the beginning, and she would leave by the time the sexual attack would occur.”
Lt Lamboy said Brooks told his victims, whom he targeted from 2005 to 2008, they needed to drink the wine quickly.
“The part called for them to drink the wine in a seductive manner,” he said. “He told them to be very comfortable with their bodies, to drink the win and feel sexy about themselves as they became more and more intoxicated.”
He then allegedly urged them to strip and forced himself on them.
Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau said: “He intimidated them. They were frightened and suddenly found themselves in his apartment for different purposes that they had anticipated.”
Friel said the drinks could have been spiked and added: “He may very well have drugged them.”
One victim, Loretta Spruell, 23, who once tried out for American Idol, told the New York Daily News: “I feel like a weight has been lifted. I'm glad he is going to be held accountable for all the lives he's destroyed and not hurt anyone else.”
Another victim, a 24-year-old student, said: “If he were put in jail for the rest of his life I'd be happy. I just don't want to see this happen to any other girl.
“He is just a very sick old man on a power trip.”
Police, who were alerted in March 2008 when his first 2005 victim came forward, believe there could be more victims.
Several women came forward after hearing abut a civil suit filed by one of the women.
Brooks, who produced the 1983 film Eddie and the Cruisers, with Ellen Barkin, and Invitation to the Wedding, starring Sir John Gielgud and Sir Ralph Richardson in 1985, suffered a debilitating stroke in April 2008 but continued to pester women, say prosecutors.
Two women trainers at a gym where he underwent physiotherapy asked not to work with him because of “unwanted attention” he allegedly paid them.
After the arraignment his lawyer said the charges are “ridiculous.
Attorney Jeffrey Hoffman told the New York Post: “It shows nine incidents starting in March and April of '08.
“Out of his whole lifetime, in eight weeks, in six weeks, he supposedly committed all these crimes.
“Knowing he didn't do it, he has full confidence in the justice system.”
Lucier is due to give herself up next week to face nine charges of criminal facilitation.