Scott Leonard, a 59-year-old former artist manager and major-label record executive, now faces serious allegations from two women who claim he drugged and sexually assaulted them at his luxury Joshua Tree home. The allegations have cast a disturbing shadow over the scenic desert community known for attracting artists seeking creative refuge, while Leonard simultaneously faces seven criminal counts related to a deadly 2022 Hollywood recording studio fire that killed musician Nathan Avery Edwards and injured Aimee Osbourne, daughter of rock legend Ozzy Osbourne.
The accusations center on the Kellogg Doolittle House, an architectural marvel designed by organic architecture master Ken Kellogg and built into a cliffside just north of Joshua Tree National Park. Leonard purchased the property for $6.55 million in 2021, transforming the modernist residence into what appeared to be a creative hub where aspiring musicians could network with an industry insider. Instead, two local artists allege the property became the site of predatory behavior that exploited their professional aspirations.
The Allegations Against Leonard
Australian folk and Americana musician Jamie-Lee Dimes, 35, moved to Joshua Tree seven years ago, drawn by its natural beauty and artistic energy after building a music career that earned praise from Rolling Stone Australia and performances at the Library of Congress. In August 2022, Dimes alleges that Leonard invited her to the Kellogg Doolittle House under the pretense of discussing her music career and offering professional guidance.
According to her police report filed with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, what followed was a horrifying experience. Dimes alleges that after playing songs for Leonard, she began feeling severely disoriented, as if under the influence of a heavy tranquilizer. She claims Leonard then took her to a bedroom featuring a large circular bed, where he raped her. The next morning, Dimes says she woke up with bruises and blood on her thighs, unable to walk properly. “I am so severely traumatized I haven’t been able to function,” Dimes told police. “I honestly feel like my entire life has been flipped upside down because of this man taking advantage of me, sexually assaulting me … and thinking I won’t say anything because of his business and music connections.”
A year earlier, in November 2021, writer and visual artist Courtney Barriger, 36, had a similarly disturbing experience at the same property. Barriger, who had known Leonard socially for seven years and later moved into an Airstream trailer across from his home, attended a small gathering at the newly-purchased Kellogg Doolittle House. According to her police report, Leonard made unsettling comments during the evening, allegedly stating “humankind would not have evolved if rape wasn’t an aspect of it.”
Late that night, Leonard allegedly offered Barriger and his partner, Keiko Harada, pineapple-flavored cocktails. Barriger claims she soon experienced hallucinations and noticed both her and Harada’s eyes were severely dilated. When she confronted Leonard about drugging them, he denied the allegations. Barriger alleges Leonard then attempted to seduce her, forcefully pulling her onto a bed and trying to kiss her. “I’m just thinking, How do I get this man out of here?” Barriger recalled in an interview. “I started to get that shark-in-the-water feeling again, like he was dangerous and very aggressive.”
Investigation Derailed by Cyberattack
Both women filed police reports with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, but their pursuit of justice has been severely hampered by a ransomware cyberattack in April 2023 that crippled the department’s computer systems and databases. The attack, perpetrated by hackers in Russia, restricted access to police reports submitted between April 2019 and April 2023, forcing both women to resubmit their statements in May 2024. The incident cost San Bernardino County $1.1 million and significantly delayed the investigation into Leonard’s alleged conduct.
Nick Rowley, an attorney representing both Dimes and Barriger, filed civil lawsuits in the Superior Court of California in the County of San Bernardino to preserve the statute of limitations and conduct independent discovery. “He’s managed to escape criminal liability because the San Bernardino County sheriff’s lost their records because their system was hacked, and that’s why we have the civil justice system – is to hold them accountable civilly,” Rowley told local media. Rowley called Leonard “a predatory sicko with exaggerated credentials,” citing a Los Angeles Times investigation that allegedly debunked some of Leonard’s career accomplishments, including claims he co-managed Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk.
Christine Pelosi, daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and an attorney also working with the victims, expressed frustration with the prolonged process. “We’ve been stuck on this for a long time. We need some sort of justice,” she stated. Both Dimes and Barriger worry that other young artists in Joshua Tree may be invited to the Kellogg Doolittle House without knowing about Leonard’s alleged pattern of behavior.
Criminal Charges Over Deadly Studio Fire
Separately, Leonard faces seven criminal counts in Los Angeles related to building safety violations stemming from a deadly fire at a Hollywood recording studio he owned. On May 19, 2022, fire broke out at the two-story commercial building housing multiple recording studios on West Lexington Avenue. The structure’s layout, with significant amounts of sound-deadening insulation, double layers of drywall, and thick windows designed to contain sound, instead trapped heat and smoke inside, creating extremely dangerous conditions for firefighters.
Nathan Avery Edwards, a 26-year-old musician who recorded, produced and mixed music under the name Avery Drift, died in the blaze. Aimee Osbourne, who performs under the name ARO and was recording at the studio with her producer, managed to escape along with one other person. It took 78 firefighters more than 50 minutes to extinguish the flames. Multiple witnesses reported hearing no smoke detectors and seeing no sprinklers activate during the fire.
Sharon Osbourne posted on Instagram after the incident, stating that her daughter and a producer “are the lucky two that made it out alive.” She added: “What happened today was beyond horrific. I really hope moving forward that buildings like this are better regulated for fire safety. This building was a creative hub for music in Hollywood, a space that should have been regulated for fire code.”
The criminal charges Leonard faces relate specifically to building safety violations, though no further details about the specific counts have been publicly disclosed. As of this writing, Leonard has not been charged with any crimes related to the sexual assault allegations, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate both cases. Leonard’s attorneys declined to comment on the allegations when contacted by media outlets.
Pattern of Exploitation in Music Industry
The allegations against Leonard fit a disturbing pattern of abuse within the music industry, where powerful figures allegedly exploit aspiring artists by dangling career opportunities while creating situations designed to isolate and victimize them. The Joshua Tree community, known as a haven for creative individuals seeking an alternative to the pressures of major cities like Los Angeles, may be particularly vulnerable to such predatory behavior due to its tight-knit nature and the outsized influence wielded by industry connections in a small town.
Both Dimes and Barriger expressed initial hesitation in reporting their experiences, fearing the impact on their careers and lives in the small desert community. Dimes stated: “This incident took away my dreams, the light behind my eyes, and my spirit, and for myself and other artists seeking to navigate the perils of this industry I won’t stay quiet any longer.” Barriger echoed this sentiment: “Today, I am taking a stand to pursue justice against Scott Leonard, driven by a profound sense of social responsibility to hold this man accountable for his predatory behavior.”
The cases also highlight systemic failures in law enforcement response to sexual assault allegations. The ransomware attack that destroyed critical evidence and delayed investigations for over a year demonstrates how vulnerable victims can be left without recourse when institutional failures compound the trauma of assault. The fact that Leonard also faces criminal charges over a deadly fire that killed a young musician and violated basic building safety codes paints a picture of an individual allegedly willing to disregard both human dignity and public safety.
Conclusion
Scott Leonard now faces accountability on two fronts: civil lawsuits from Jamie-Lee Dimes and Courtney Barriger over alleged drugging and sexual assault at the Kellogg Doolittle House, and seven criminal counts related to building safety violations that contributed to Nathan Avery Edwards’s death in a Hollywood studio fire. The allegations expose how power dynamics within the music industry can create predatory opportunities, particularly in smaller artistic communities where access to industry connections carries outsize influence. While Leonard has not been criminally charged in the assault cases and his attorneys have declined comment, both victims continue pressing their claims through civil litigation, determined to warn other artists and demand accountability for alleged exploitation disguised as career mentorship.
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