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Oscar Winner Accused of Sexual Assaults

PopEater / Wire Services

posted: 171 DAYS 9 HOURS AGO

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NEW YORK (AP) - Academy Award-winning songwriter Joseph Brooks is being accused by at least four women of luring them to his home allegedly via Internet casting calls and then sexually assaulting them as they auditioned, according to police.

When a woman responded to an audition call, the 70-year-old Brooks would tell her she'd be playing a prostitute and would have her drink shots and perform sex acts on him, police said. Some women believe they might have been drugged, police said.

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Oscar Winner Sex Assaults?

Joseph Brooks, the Oscar-winning songwriter turned director -- seen here while filming 1978's 'If Ever I See You Again' -- is being accused by at least four women of sexual assault.

Everett Collection

Brooks, again, seen here in 'If Ever I ...' may have used Internet casting calls as a way to lure women into his home, where he then allegedly sexually assaulted them.

Everett Collection

Brooks won an Oscar for Best Original Song for the 1977 Debby Boone ballad, "You Light Up My Life." He went on to become a director and actor.

Everett Collection

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Brooks' Oscar-Winning Song,
Performed by Debbie Boone

At least four incidents are alleged to have happened in March and May 2008, police spokesman John Sweeney said. One woman told authorities she had sex with Brooks after drinking wine with him, Sweeney said.

A woman from Seattle said she responded to an ad and after she arrived in New York, Brooks demanded she have sex with him, Sweeney said. Another woman told police Brooks sodomized her, Sweeney said.

Brooks hasn't been charged, Sweeney said.

Telephone calls to Brooks' attorney, Jeff Hoffman, weren't immediately returned Monday. There was no telephone listing for Brooks at the Manhattan home address provided by police.

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Brooks won an Oscar for Best Original Song for the 1977 Debby Boone ballad, "You Light Up My Life."

Brooks also wrote and directed the romantic comedy "You Light Up My Life," for which the song was composed. The movie stars Didi Conn as Laurie Robinson, a comedian who dreams of being an actress and has a one-night stand with a director.

2009-01-13 06:48:11

Dan Steinberg, AP

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TLSNIDE

02:01 PMJan 14 2009

"One woman told authorities she had sex with Brooks after drinking wine with him, Sweeney said."This a quote from the article. How does I had sex with him turn into rape????

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sTeVejRhUmPsMeN

01:09 PMJan 14 2009

No matter how many times women are told not to meet people off the internet, they still go and do it. When will people stop caring for these women who obviously don't care about themselves?

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Candi4r

11:21 AMJan 14 2009

I really cant believe what some people are typing here. First of, even though these ladies may not have used common sense, that does not make them ******. Secondly, awoman taking part to perform a sexual act can and does count as rape in the case that he or she was forced under the circumstances to do so. In the case that the women where drugged, then it would defiently count as rape. Although the females in a sense should be responsbile for their actions, Brookes should also be held accountable for his. The judgements some people make about this without knowing even half of the details is just harsh and pure ignorance...and people wonder why women dont speak up when they are raped.

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Candi4r

11:19 AMJan 14 2009

I really cant beleieve what some people are typing here. First of, even those these ladies may not have used common sense, that does not make them ******. Secondly, woman talking part to perform a sexual act can and does count as rape in the case that he or she was forced under the circumstances to do so. In the case that the women where drugged, then it would defiently count as rape. Although the females in a sense should be responsbile for their actions, Brookes should also be held accountable for his. This judgements some people make about this without knowing even half of the details is just pure ignorance...and people wonder why women dont speak up when they are raped.

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VCoratello

05:39 AMJan 14 2009

If he's seventy years old, maybe he can get the charges reduced to assault with a dead weapon.

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Corporal Boone

04:08 AMJan 14 2009

Ho's and bitches will do anything for fame and money. Don't blame the guy.

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Fmcsheffrey

03:09 AMJan 14 2009

dear stupid women, STOP being SO friggin' STUPID!!!!! please!! stop being so dumb and falling into traps like this...internet casting calls????????????? COME ON!!!!!! yes alot of men DO suck....but.......again i must say....STOP BEING SO STUPID!!!!!!!! God sometimes i'm ashamed to be female....i look around at the ditzy females and think egads God help us.

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DaiBando1

02:32 AMJan 14 2009

SO WHO IS THIS BROOKS GUY....NEVER HEARD OF HIM...........BOTTOM FEEDER

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JWallstrom