Charges in Sexual Attacks Challenged

A man extradited from Pennsylvania asked a judge Thursday to drop more than half of the counts filed against him for allegedly posing as a talent scout to lure 14 UCLA women to his apartment and secretly videotaping his sexual assaults on them.

Michael Peers requested that 19 of the 31 charges against him be dropped. A hearing on the request is scheduled Tuesday.

Peers’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Haydeh Takasugi, said the police report does not substantiate the charges. But Deputy City Atty. Brian Williams said most of the charges are based on videotaped evidence not included in UCLA detectives’ police report.

Police said the 50-year-old Peers actually videotaped 65 alleged victims, but not all of the tapes could be located.

The Allegheny Police Department arrested Peers in November, and he was extradited earlier this month.

Peers is charged with two counts of sexual battery, 12 counts of battery, 15 counts of unlawfully videotaping a person without their knowledge and one count each of unlawful penetration by a foreign object and grand theft. UCLA detectives first investigated Peers after an 18-year-old student reported that he sexually battered her in his apartment after identifying himself as a talent agent.

A UCLA police search at Peers’ home in 1998 turned up videotapes with names of alleged victims, cameras and photos and slides showing nude and clothed women.

Takasugi said Peers is an independent casting agent and has worked for major studios. She said he would plead not guilty and asked that all battery charges be dropped.