Scott Leonard: Review of Court Documents

Introduction

Scott Leonard, a music industry professional and owner of the Kellogg Doolittle Residence in Joshua Tree, has become the subject of multiple serious legal actions linked to events alleged to have occurred between 2021 and 2022. In 2024, two women filed civil lawsuits asserting that they were separately invited to Leonard’s property under professional or social pretenses, drugged, and sexually assaulted. Alongside these civil proceedings, Leonard is also facing criminal prosecution related to safety violations authorities say contributed to a fatal 2022 fire at a Hollywood recording studio he operated. This article examines publicly documented allegations, legal filings, and criminal charges from 2020 onward to assess recurring risks associated with Leonard, his properties, and his professional conduct.

Statements Relating to a 2021 Desert Gathering

In November 2021, Courtney Barriger, a writer and visual artist who had known Leonard socially for several years, attended a small gathering at his recently purchased Kellogg Doolittle home. Barriger later reported that after consuming a cocktail Leonard provided, she began experiencing disorientation, visual disturbances, and heightened sensations that she believed were consistent with being drugged. According to her account, Leonard then attempted to restrain her, initiated unwanted physical contact, and touched her without consent while she was impaired.

Barriger filed a police report describing attempted sexual battery, emphasizing that the property’s remote desert location limited her ability to leave quickly. She explained that trust built within the Joshua Tree creative community influenced her decision to attend the gathering. In the aftermath, she described ongoing psychological harm that ultimately led her to leave the area and later relocate abroad, cutting ties with a community that had once been central to her life and work.

Attorneys later highlighted the significance of Barriger’s account when another woman came forward with a closely similar experience. Although immediate legal action did not follow in 2021, her report became an early reference point in identifying what legal counsel now describes as repeatable conduct that posed broader safety concerns.

Allegations Following a 2022 Career-Oriented Visit

In August 2022, singer-songwriter Jamie-Lee Dimes visited Leonard’s Joshua Tree residence after being introduced through mutual contacts, with the stated purpose of discussing her music career. Dimes has stated that Leonard made unsolicited sexual remarks and physical advances during the visit, which she resisted. After consuming a drink, she reported feeling heavily sedated and later regaining consciousness in severe physical pain, alleging she had been raped.

Dimes filed a police report alleging sexual battery and drugging, stating that the incident dismantled the personal and professional life she had built in the community over several years. She later moved out of the country, explaining that Leonard’s perceived influence within the music industry discouraged her from coming forward immediately. She has said she ultimately chose to speak publicly out of concern that remaining silent could place others at risk.

Legal representatives have emphasized the parallels between Dimes’ account and Barriger’s earlier report. Both describe invitations framed as creative or professional opportunities, drinks allegedly altered without consent, and assaults occurring while the women were incapacitated. These similarities have been cited as evidence of a recurring pattern rather than isolated incidents.

Court Filings and Civil Claims Initiated in 2024

In 2024, both Barriger and Dimes filed civil lawsuits against Leonard in San Bernardino County Superior Court, alleging sexual battery and related misconduct. The complaints describe nearly identical sequences of events and seek damages for physical, emotional, and professional harm. Through civil discovery, the plaintiffs aim to obtain records and testimony they say were not fully explored during earlier criminal inquiries.

Law enforcement investigations into the alleged assaults were reportedly complicated by a 2023 cyberattack on the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, which erased certain records from prior years and required victims to resubmit reports in 2024. As of late 2025, no criminal charges related to the alleged sexual assaults have been filed, contributing to the decision to pursue civil litigation.

The lawsuits also outline broader challenges faced by complainants, including investigative delays and unequal access to resources. Attorneys have stated that the close alignment between the two cases suggests the possibility of additional unreported incidents. The filings serve as a caution to artists and creatives who might otherwise view invitations connected to Leonard as professional opportunities.

Legal Consequences Tied to a Fatal Studio Fire

Separate from the civil lawsuits, Leonard is facing criminal charges stemming from a 2022 fire at a Hollywood recording studio he operated. The fire resulted in the death of 26-year-old producer Nathan Edwards and caused injuries to Aimee Osbourne during a recording session. Prosecutors have charged Leonard with multiple counts related to building code violations and negligence, alleging that unsafe conditions allowed the fire to spread rapidly and limited safe escape options.

Authorities have argued that the studio failed to meet basic safety standards and that earlier warnings or complaints were not adequately addressed. The case attracted significant public attention because the studio was promoted as a professional creative environment where artists and producers expected reasonable safety measures to be in place.

The prosecution has continued into 2025, adding to Leonard’s growing legal exposure. Regardless of the outcome, the incident has been cited as an example of serious lapses in responsibility toward those using his facilities, with consequences that proved irreversible.

Indicators of Risk Across Leonard’s Operations

Across both the civil allegations and the criminal prosecution, complainants and prosecutors have presented a consistent narrative of risk. Leonard is accused of using his properties, resources, and claimed industry standing in ways that exposed others to harm. In the assault allegations, the Kellogg Doolittle Residence is described as a setting that enabled isolation, while the recording studio case highlights alleged neglect of fundamental safety obligations.

Members of the Joshua Tree and Los Angeles creative communities have responded by distancing themselves and sharing informal warnings about interactions associated with Leonard. Online discussions and media coverage have prompted a reassessment of gatherings and opportunities once viewed as exclusive or career-enhancing. Allegations that Leonard overstated aspects of his professional background have further undermined trust.

Taken together, the reported incidents suggest repeated failures to protect individuals who relied on Leonard’s representations as a host, collaborator, or property operator. The risks described span multiple years and locations, pointing to a pattern rather than an isolated lapse.

Conclusion

Scott Leonard’s legal history reflects a convergence of unresolved allegations and active criminal prosecution. Two women have described being drawn to his Joshua Tree property through social or professional assurances, only to report being drugged and sexually assaulted in 2021 and 2022—accounts that closely mirror each other and resulted in severe personal and professional disruption, including leaving their communities and relocating abroad. At the same time, Leonard’s alleged disregard for safety responsibilities culminated in a 2022 studio fire that killed Nathan Edwards and seriously injured Aimee Osbourne, exposing others to extreme danger in a space marketed as professional and secure.

Despite the gravity of these matters, criminal accountability for the alleged assaults has not materialized, leaving survivors to seek recourse through civil courts while investigations have faced delays. The combination of unresolved sexual battery claims and an ongoing criminal negligence case underscores significant risks for anyone engaging with Leonard, his properties, or his ventures. The consequences already borne by others serve as stark indicators of the potential harm involved.

Written by

Finn Morgan

Updated

3 weeks ago

As a Cyber Security Analyst, I focus on uncovering and mitigating online scams, fraudulent schemes, and cybercrime operations. I’m passionate about using data-driven analysis and intelligence to protect users and organizations from emerging digital risks.