Actor Craig McLachlan has been charged with indecent assault by the Victorian Police.
This comes as McLachlan is in the process of suing the ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Rocky Horror Show co-star Christie Whelan Browne over stories which claimed McLachlan indecently assaulted Whelan Browne during the production of Rocky Horror.
McLachlan is citing the ABC and The Sydney Morning Herald‘s claim he is “guilty of indecently assaulting, sexually harassing, indecently exposing himself to and bullying female cast members of the 2014 production of the Rocky Horror Show” as his catalyst for the defamation case.
The charges include one count of common law assault, eight counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said: “Melbourne Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team have charged a 53-year-old NSW man on one count of common law assault, eight counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted indecent assault.
“He was charged on summons to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 8 February 2019.”
Meanwhile, speaking to the Herald Sun, a spokesman for McLachlan said: “Craig is innocent of these charges which will be vigorously defended.”
The accusations were first publicised in January 2018, when actresses Erika Heynatz, Christie Whelan Browne and Angela Scundi alleged McLachlan used his role as Dr Frank-N-Furter to indecently assault, harass and intimidate them, according to a joint investigation by the ABC and Fairfax.
In November, three more women have faced court in Sydney over claims of harassment towards actor Craig McLachlan.
The women accused McLachlan of unwanted kisses and inappropriate touching while working with the actor on the TV show, Doctor Blake Mysteries.
At the time Doctor Blake Mysteries was being broadcast on the ABC, however Seven then bought the rights to the show prior to the accusations coming out.
In April of last year, Seven announced that The Doctor Blake Mysteries would be returning, however, it wouldn’t include McLachlan who is the show’s star.
