Hollywood producer David Pearce has been sentenced to 146 years in prison after being found guilty of multiple rapes and the overdose deaths of model Christy Giles and her friend Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola.
According to prosecutors, Pearce lured the two women to his Los Angeles apartment in November 2021, where they were given drinks laced with fentanyl and GHB. When both women became unresponsive, Pearce and his associates failed to seek help and instead left their bodies outside two different hospitals under the cover of darkness.
Christy Giles, 24, was pronounced dead at the scene, while Cabrales-Arzola, 26, was placed on life support for several days before passing away. The shocking case drew national attention and ignited debate about drug use, predation, and power abuse in Hollywood’s social circles.
During the trial, prosecutors revealed that Pearce had a long history of drugging and sexually assaulting women. Several victims came forward, describing how Pearce used his position in the entertainment industry to lure women to parties, where he would allegedly spike their drinks and assault them.
In court, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor Hunter condemned Pearce as a “manipulative predator” who “exploited power and opportunity to destroy lives.” The judge emphasized the severity of his crimes and his lack of remorse, stating that his sentence reflected the gravity of his repeated offenses.
Among Pearce’s known victims was Lauren Craven, a 25-year-old police officer who came forward as one of the women he had assaulted. In a tragic twist, Craven was killed in a traffic accident just days before Pearce’s sentencing, where she had planned to deliver her victim impact statement.
Pearce’s accomplice, Brandt Osborn, faced charges as an accessory after the fact for allegedly helping dispose of the victims’ bodies. His trial ended in a hung jury, and prosecutors are considering whether to retry the case.
Family members of Giles and Cabrales-Arzola expressed relief at the verdict. Speaking outside the courthouse, Giles’ husband said the sentence “can’t bring Christy back, but it ensures Pearce will never hurt anyone again.”
Legal analysts have called Pearce’s 146-year sentence one of the harshest for a non-capital offense in Los Angeles County in recent years, signaling a broader shift toward tougher punishment in cases involving sexual violence and drug-related deaths.
The case has also renewed calls for greater oversight of party culture within the entertainment industry and increased protections for women in Los Angeles nightlife.
