‘Millionaire Matchmaker’s’ Michael Leslie Bernback Facing Disturbing Rape Charges

Businessman Michael Leslie Bernback appeared on Millionaire Matchmaker four years ago looking for a date. The now 62-year-old wanted much younger women, what he called “baby breeders,” and disgusted the show’s host, Patti Stanger. Her instincts may have been right — Bernback is now facing rape charges.

The nature of those charges — among them eight felonies and three misdemeanors — hint at vile and disturbing crimes. Bernback is accused of raping three women, CBS Los Angeles reported. The alleged incidents happened last year and just this past August.

Michael Leslie met the women online, LAist added. And one of his neighbors in Sherman Oaks doesn’t seem very surprised that the businessman is now in jail, facing a $2.1 million bond. She saw many young women at his house — two a night, up to four times a week.

“I was waiting for it to implode.”

The felonies: one count each forcible rape, rape by use of drugs, rape of an unconscious person, forcible oral copulation, sexual penetration by a foreign object, and attempted sodomy by use of force, and two counts of administering a drug to commit rape. The three misdemeanor counts are for possession of cocaine and Ecstasy.

Bernback is accused not just of rape, but of drugging one of this alleged victims and tying up the other. The assaults occurred in March and September 2014 and August 11. Michael Leslie was initially arrested and remanded to jail on $300,000 bond, but he was soon free. On Thursday, Bernback was taken into custody again after his bail was hiked.

According to LAist, Michael Leslie, a Brooklyn native, owns a golfing company, writes music, and claims to have created Chippendales, a fib the actual founders have contradicted publicly. When he appeared on Millionaire Matchmaker, Bernback told the lie about Chippendales, said he was worth $8 million and owned several houses. His last girlfriend, he claimed, was Miss Philippines 2004.

Stranger wasn’t impressed. She said he pushed her to set him up with a much younger woman, or a “baby breeder,” as the bachelor put it. The matchmaker set him up with a woman closer to his age, but they only went on one date. After the show, she didn’t hold back her criticism of Bernback.

“But I also have another douchebag this week, a Jewish douchebag, not good for the Jews. His name — Michael Leslie Bernback. He invented some review that was a rip off of Chippendale’s. He made his money that way. Now he’s trying to be a fledgling songwriter. Not so cool with what he does. And he comes on to me with the charm — ‘You look beautiful. You look skinny. How ’bout you going out with me?’ Not a chance. He’s this tall. He’s obnoxious. And his bull– is about this big. I’m not going out with him.”

Now, Bernback could face multiple life terms in prison if he is convicted of the charges.

[Photo Courtesy YouTube Screengrab]