Ron Jeremy pleads not guilty to rape, sexual assault charges

After declaring his “innocence” on Twitter, Ron Jeremy officially pleaded not guilty to multiple felony sex crimes, Yahoo Entertainment can confirm. The former adult film star, who appeared in a Los Angeles courtroom on Friday, remains in custody. His bail was previously set at $6.6 million.

On Tuesday, Jeremy was charged with raping three women and sexually assaulting a fourth in separate incidents dating back to 2014. In total, he was charged with eight counts of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and sexual battery.

In court on Friday, Jeremy’s attorney said his client “never, in his life, had sex with a female through force or duress,” per the Los Angeles Times. Authorities have received 25 new complaints of sexual misconduct against Jeremy this week since his arrest made news.

Deputy District Attorney Paul Thompson said it is “certainly possible” the new claims could lead to additional charges, according to the Times, revealing the allegations ranged from groping to overt acts of sexual violence.

Yahoo Entertainment reached out to Jeremy’s lawyer for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.

A message posted on the entertainer’s official Twitter account on Tuesday denied wrongdoing. “I am innocent of all charges,” the tweet read. “I can’t wait to prove my innocence in court!”

Prosecutors claim Jeremy, 67, forcibly raped a 25-year-old woman at a home in West Hollywood in May 2014. He’s accused of sexually assaulting two women, ages 33 and 46, on separate occasions at a West Hollywood bar in 2017. He allegedly forcibly raped a 30-year-old woman at the same bar in July 2019. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office noted it investigated another incident involving the porn star from 2016 but declined the case due to insufficient evidence.

Jeremy faces a possible maximum sentence of 90 years to life in state prison if convicted as charged.

Shortly after his arrest, Jeremy was dropped by his manager. “We hope that these allegations against [Ron] are not true, but if they are, we hope that he is prosecuted,” Dante Rusciolelli told Yahoo Entertainment over email.

Sexual misconduct and assault allegations dogged Jeremy for years and he has repeatedly denied wrongdoing. After Rolling Stone laid out his troubling history with women in a 2017 article, Jeremy told the magazine he “never raped anyone.”

Jeremy's next court appearance is Aug. 31.

Source: Yahoo.com

PBA coaches ask fans to pray, be patient

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra assistant coach Olsen Racela asked for more patience and prayers from fans who are longing to see the PBA back in action soon.

“For the PBA fans, konting pasensya lang po,” Racela said during Saturday night’s PBA Kamustahan podcast.

“I know sila Commissioner (Willie Marcial) and the board are doing their best para makabalik ang PBA pero konting pasensya lang po. Sinisiguro nila na maayos na ang lahat bago nila ibalik ang PBA,” he added.

“In the meantime, magdasal po tayo sana matapos na itong pandemic para sa ikabubuti ng lahat,” he appealed.

The pro league is awaiting government approval for its “new normal” protocols.

Conditions permitting, the PBA hopes to resume its Season 45 Philippine Cup by October at the latest.

Racela’s sentiments were echoed by Columbian coach Johnedel Cardel and assistant coaches Topex Robinson of Phoenix, Johnny Abarrientos of Magnolia, Danny Ildefonso of Alaska, and Rommel Adducul of Blackwater.

The former PBA greats talked about their transition to coaching and various influences as they perform their current jobs.

Ildefonso fondly remembered his earliest – and probably most successful pupil – as a skills coach – reigning league MVP June Mar Fajardo.

“Si June Mar napakasarap turuan. Unlike ibang players, open talaga siya, gusto niya talagang matuto,” said Ildefonso, the two-time MVP who mentored a young Fajardo in 2012 in his last season with Petron.

Ildefonso shared this mentorship actually started even before the Cebuano jumped over to the PBA.

“Bago pa siya dumating ng Manila, tinuturuan ko na siya. Kasi pag bumababa siya, malayo niya tinatanggap ang bola eh,” he said.

“Sabi ko, hindi ka yayaman dyan, 6’9, 6’10 ka, sabi ko alam mo nasaan ang pera? Doon sa ilalim ng goal, doon mo kunin,” he added.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/

Sara: Pa is hard to love

DAVAO CITY , Philippines – For presidential daughter and Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, President Duterte is “hard to love” when it comes to his children.

But Sara credits her father, who is now 75 years old, for instilling the importance of education in his children.

She said she is “very grateful” for her father who was “very strict” when it came to their education, which eventually paved the way for her becoming a lawyer.

“I’m very grateful for my father. He is hard to love and he is not soft as a father. Yes, he is strict when it comes to education,” Sara said in the Visayan dialect in an interview with dxDC on Father’s Day yesterday.

“But now that I’m already a lawyer at 42, I appreciate what my father did before, because if not for his scolding me, if not for his anger, maybe I would not be a lawyer at all,” she said.

Aside from Sara, Duterte has two other children with his first wife Elizabeth Zimmerman – Congressman Paolo and Davao City Vice Mayor Sebastian.

The President also has a daughter, Veronica, with his partner Cielito “Honeylet” Avancena.

“The lesson on the importance of education — he was so particular and very strict about education so that anything you do that he considers to be something that would ruin your education, he will really get mad,” Sara said.

She is touted to seek the presidency in 2022 when the term of her father as president ends.

Source: https://www.philstar.com/