Songwriter Brooks makes $1.25M bail in NY sex case

(AP) — "You Light Up My Life" tunesmith Joseph Brooks is staying free while fighting charges of molesting a string of would-be actresses in his Manhattan apartment.

Defense lawyer Jeffrey Hoffman said Tuesday that the Academy Award-winning songwriter sold stock to come up with $1.25 million cash bail.

Brooks' bail was raised from $250,000 after prosecutors increased the charges against him last month.

The 71-year-old Brooks has pleaded not guilty to predatory sexual assault and other charges.

He's accused of forcing himself on 13 women. Prosecutors say many of the women had answered Brooks' ads offering auditions for movie roles.

Brooks won an Oscar for best original song for "You Light Up My Life" in 1977.