Vista Del Mar Hospital Employee Arrested For Sexual Assault Of Psychiatric Patients

A Report from KEYT TV3 news

Police arrested 37-year-old Juan Pablo Valencia of Ventura Thursday on charges of sexual assault and rape of hospital patients.

Victim after victim came forward since the first incident was reported in October 2014—each with almost the same story. They were psychiatric patients at Vista Del Mar Hospital in Ventura and say Valencia sexually pursued them and continued to do so after their release.

The first victim reported the assaults occurred in 2013, with the rest of the victims coming forward in February 2015.

Valencia was initially arrested on January 2015 on the 2600 block of N Ventura Avenue. He was again arrested Thursday on the 600 block of Count Square Drive.

He is being held at Ventura County Jail under numerous sexual assault charges including rape of an intoxicated and institutionalized person.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding sexual misconduct by the suspect is urged to contact the Ventura Police Department at 805-339-4328.

The Psychiatric & Mental Health Rape Reporter says that up to 25% of psychiatrists & psychologists use their patients for sex.

Lawsuit describes string of sex assaults at Seattle Children's Hospital - Hospital staff failed to help girl abused in psychiatric ward

From a report in Seattle PI

Much more information at the link

A former patient at Seattle Children’s Hospital has sued, claiming hospital staff failed to notice as she was repeatedly, sexually assaulted by another patient.

Attorneys for the young woman claim at least three other children have been sexually abused at the Laurelhurst neighborhood facility in recent years. Despite assurances of reform from hospital managers, they contend too little is being done to protect children there.

Writing the court, attorneys Steve Berman and Marty McLean said their client was just one of an unknown number of children abused while locked in Children’s inpatient psychiatric unit.

“Sadly, (she) is not the first child-patient who was sexually victimized while admitted,” Berman said in the lawsuit, which was filed earlier this week. “Publically available records confirm that (she) was at least the fourth patient in a five-year span to have been sexually victimized while under (Children’s) care and custody.”

Berman, a nationally prominent attorney specializing in class-action lawsuits, went on to say he believes “there are more children who have been victimized, as well.”

A spokeswoman for Seattle Children’s declined to comment on the lawsuit. Attorneys for the University of Washington-affiliated nonprofit have not yet responded to the allegations in court.

Court expert for the Los Angeles Unified School District argues that a girl with low IQ may suffer less after sex assault

As Reported on 89.3 KPCC Radio

A psychologist hired by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) testified last year that a 9-year-old girl's low IQ provided a "protective factor" that could reduce the amount of emotional stress she experienced from a sexual assault, according to court records examined by KPCC.

Dr. Stan Katz made the statements during the May 2013 trial over how much in damages the girl was entitled to after being repeatedly sexually assaulted by a boy at her school. The girl has an IQ between 64 and 70; the boy who assaulted her was not developmentally disabled, according to court transcripts.

The abuse happened at various spots around the school campus, according to David Ring, the girl's attorney. Her family sued LAUSD, arguing the girl needed financial compensation because she suffered significant trauma and would need long-term therapy.

"Protective factor"

At trial, Ring asked Katz what he meant when he had testified that the girl's mental disability "acts as a protective factor." According to the court transcript, Katz answered, "There's a relationship between intelligence and depression. What happens is the more you think about things, you can ruminate, you can focus on things, you can look at the complexities of the matter and become more depressed."

Following up, Ring asked, "So because she may be less intelligent than a general education student, she's going to suffer less depression because of it?" Katz replied, "Very possible, yes."

Katz didn't deny that the girl had suffered, and he said she would require therapy to deal with the trauma.

The assaults against the girl occurred in 2010, when she was 9 years old. Katz testified that when he interviewed the girl in April 2012, whatever emotional problems she may have had at the time were a result of not having her father in her life and her mental disability, not the molestation.

"I have handled hundreds of cases where the experts have given depositions, and I've never heard [the protective factor argument] in the way it was said" in this case, said Ring.

Two experts in the field reviewed Katz's testimony and said there is no science to support his assertion about the protective factor.

"I have never seen developmental disability in a child that age used as a protective factor with respect to how they handle trauma," said University of California San Francisco psychiatrist Dr. Lynn Ponton. "In fact," she added, "developmental disability quite often puts them at risk for this type of trauma."

Dr. Steven Berkowitz, an associate professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, agreed.

A mentally disabled person who has undergone a traumatic experience may have a "compromised" ability "to fully understand why something may have happened" or "the consequences for themselves and others," said Berkowitz, who is also director of the Perelman school's Penn Center for Youth and Family Trauma Response and Recovery. That person may also have difficulty with "decision making or problem solving around the use of coping strategies to assist them in dealing with the stress or trauma," he said.

Asked about Dr. Katz' protective factor argument on behalf of the school district, LAUSD Associate General Counsel Greg McNair said he hadn't read the trial transcripts, but added, "I don’t know anything about that. I would not agree with that. I think anyone who has been involved in a traumatic event would suffer tremendously."

Katz did not return repeated calls seeking his comment.

"The jury was offended"

The jury in the case awarded the girl $1.4 million in damages, far more than the $10,000-$12,500 LAUSD attorney Keith Wyatt argued she needed for therapy sessions.

"The jury was offended, they were disgusted and they thought it was unbelievable that an expert witness could come in and say something like that," Ring said, referring to post-trial conversations he had with jurors.

Members of the L.A. Unified Board of Education did not respond to requests for comment, although it's unclear how familiar they are with the details of the case. According to LAUSD counsel McNair, the board does get a brief, called a trial informative, at least thirty days before a trial, which describes the facts of the case and the positions of the district and plaintiffs, but daily briefings are unusual.

"It's a rare case when we would provide a daily update to the board on a case," said McNair. "I get daily updates on every trial that takes place," he said, adding that he's typically tracking about 100 lawsuits "more or less" at any one time.

Marci Hamilton, a professor at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York, believes it's important that LAUSD keep its board well informed about ongoing litigation.

"What I wonder is whether or not the LAUSD actually knows what its experts and its lawyers are arguing, because this is beyond the pale for any school district that is supposed to be, under law, caring for children,"​ said Hamilton.

Even though Katz's comments on the protective factor were just a small part of his testimony in this case, Hamilton expressed concern that L.A. Unified might try to use the same argument in future lawsuits, a prospect she found "disturbing."

Katz has become something of a celebrity through his appearances on several reality TV shows, including "It's Complicated" with actress Denise Richards. But he said in court that most of his time is spent as an expert witness and mediator in child custody disputes. For the past ten years, he's worked on several cases, including some LAUSD child abuse cases, with Wyatt's firm of Ivie, McNeill & Wyatt.

Dr. Katz is consulting on another child abuse case involving a former teacher from Hamilton High school. That case is scheduled to go to trial in February and Ivie, McNeill & Wyatt has been retained to defend LAUSD, district officials said. Keith Wyatt will not be the lawyer from his firm trying the case because the district said he will no longer represent it in any lawsuits following remarks he made to KPCC about his handling of another sex abuse suit.

QUESTION: Where in the world could you go to find a place where half of all women are raped? ANSWER: Australia’s psychiatric hospitals.

Came across this news item from last year.

Still worth posting about

That’s the shocking conclusion of a new report from the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VIMIAC).

Their survey of women who have been in psychiatric wards in Victorian hospitals paints a shocking picture.

A terrifying 85 per cent said they had felt unsafe, with most saying they reported it to doctors and nurses and felt nothing was done. About 45 per cent had been sexually assaulted in hospital.

Just imagine the terror. You are alone, in a foreign place, completely under the control of medical staff, many of whom you have only just met, and surrounded by very disturbed people.

Even worse, you are disturbed: so depressed you unable to defend yourself, or perhaps already being tortured by fears, feelings or voices. There is a good chance you have a previous history of being assaulted, as such attacks vastly increase your chance of developing a mental illness.

It’s sickening. It’s happening now. And we are standing by and doing nothing.

“We expect people with mental illness to tolerate what no-one else would tolerate,” says Isabell Collins from VIMIAC. “It would only need to happen once in a general hospital ward and it would be fixed immediately.”

Yet, says Collins, she has been working in mental health for 25 years, “and sexual assault has been a problem for 25 years”.

Her survey included about 50 women from Victoria, but Collins says it does not overestimate the problem.

“If anything it underestimates it,” she says. “If you did the exact same survey in any state you would expect the same results”.

How could this be? How can we allow our most vulnerable people to be treated in this way? It’s hard not to agree with Collins that the answer is that society would rather just ignore mental illness, scared off by stigma and misinformation and a desire to sweep difficult problems under the carpet.

The incoming head of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Mal Hopwood, says that while he can’t be sure on the exact proportion of women raped in care, there is clearly a problem that exists around the country.

“Certainly the numbers in that report suggest it’s not an insignificant problem,” he says.

He wants hospitals to be properly funded to enforce female-only areas and support women who are assaulted.

But he says fixing buildings and allocating spaces won’t be enough: an attitude change is needed as well.

You also have to wonder if our over-reliance on medication and biological psychiatry have helped downplay the importance of creating positive environments in psych hospitals.

After all, if mental illness is just a brain disease that needs the right medication, then surely a stark, busy, hospital environment will make no difference?

But mental illness is closely linked to both our personal experiences and the culture we are living in, and putting people in scary, loud and under-resourced hospitals cannot be helping.

I couldn’t have more admiration for many of the hard-working doctors and nurses working in public hospital psychiatric units, yet the truth is that most of these places are awful to be in.

Rape is the terrible tip of a huge problem that we have been ignoring for far too long.

Psychiatrist Howard Mahler Facing Rape Charges; He Also Saw Patients and Then Had Other Doctor Write The Prescriptions, according to DA

Just in time for Halloween we have this report from the Port Washington Patch

A Long Beach psychiatrist conspired with an ex-doctor from Sands Point to sell prescriptions for Adderall and Xanax, according to the Nassau County District Attorney’s office.

Howard Mahler, 62, of Long Beach, was charged with five counts of criminal sale of a prescription for a controlled substance and fourth-degree conspiracy. He faces a maximum of five to 15 years in prison if convicted, the DA said.

Mahler is accused of selling prescriptions for addictive drugs to patients of former psychiatrist Marshall Hubsher, 64, of Sands Point, the DA said.

Hubsher was charged with third-degree rape in 2012 for allegedly having sex with a patient, the DA said. Despite having his license revoked, Hubsher kept meeting with patients in exchange for cash, the DA said. Hubsher would reportedly meet with patients in office hallways before they would go in to meet with Mahler, who wrote prescriptions based on information given to Hubsher, officials said.

Hubsher is charged with five counts of unauthorized practice of a profession and fourth-degree conspiracy, the DA said. He faces up to four years in prison if convicted.

In one instance, an undercover detective posed as a patient and confessed to Hubsher that he wanted higher doses of Adderall so he could sell them and buy Oxycodone, the DA said.

Long Island division DEA officials arrested Hubsher and Mahler in Hubsher’s office Wednesday, officials said.

Both Mahler and Hubsher are due back in court Nov. 3. Hubsher will also return to court Dec. 1 on the previous rape charge.

Related: Sands Point Psychiatrist Faces Rape Charges

Psychiatrist Sam Castellani Allegedly Forced Patient To Perform Sex Act To Receive Prescription

From WSMV - Nashville - Nashville Doctor Arrested On Rape Charge - Psychiatrist Allegedly Forced Patient To Perform Sex Act To Receive Prescription

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Madison-based psychiatrist is facing a rape charge after he was arrested on Thursday.

Police said Dr. Sam U. Castellani, 67, is accused of raping a 36-year-old female patient on March 23.

Castellani, a Brentwood resident, was taken into custody at his 500 Lentz Road office in Madison.

Police charged him with one count of rape for allegedly forcing the patient to perform a sex act on him in order to receive her medication prescription.

The investigation of the March 23 incident began on May 27 when the victim came to police headquarters and reported the matter.

The alleged victim told police that her March 23 appointment was changed from mid-afternoon to 6 p.m. According to police, she said during the appointment Castellani wrote out her prescription, placed it on his desk and then exposed himself.

During the investigation, police said detectives found evidence that the alleged incident occurred and that Castellani may have had sexual contact with other female patients.

The public is urged to call the Metro Sex Crimes unit at 862-7540 if they had any inappropriate or illegal activity connected with Castellani.

The doctor is free on $74,999 bail.

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Former psychiatrist guilty of raping patients

From ABC News in Australia

An 80-year-old former Perth psychiatrist has been found guility of molesting and raping two of his patients more than 30 years ago.

Alan John Stubley had been on trial for the past week accused of forcing the two women to have sex with him during psychotherapy sessions between 1975 and 1978.

After six hours of deliberations, a Supreme Court jury found him guility of ten charges, but acquitted him of four others.

Stubley, who has senile dementia, has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced in January.

Psychiatrist indicted on two counts of statutory rape

From the Crossville Chronicle

A Cookeville psychiatrist who had an office in Crossville has been indicted by the Cumberland County Grand Jury on two counts of statutory rape by an authority figure, according to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department.

Dr. Chip Hayward Fountain, 44, was indicted by the grand jury on May 6 after "a thorough investigation" by the Department of Children's Services, District Attorney General's Office and the sheriff's department. Fountain surrendered to authorities at the Justice Center on May 27.

A press release states that Fountain, who in addition to Cookeville and Crossville, had an office in Livingston, is accused of "being sexually involved with a former juvenile female patient."

Bond was set at $15,000 and Fountain is scheduled to appear for arraignment in Cumberland County Criminal Court on June 2, according to Investigator Jeff Slayton's release.

Fountain graduated from Texas Tech University Health Service Center School for Medicine in the late 1990s.

Shrinks say sex with their patients is an "occupational hazard" they just have to deal with

As reported in the NY Post

Shrinks are now labeling sex with their patients an "occupational hazard."

On the heels of the popular HBO series "In Treatment," in which a handsome 50-year-old psychologist played by Gabriel Byrne falls for a gorgeous 30-year-old patient who reveals her love and lust for him, psychiatrists are airing their own dirty little secret.

About 12 percent of therapists admit to sexual contact with patients, and many who cross the line are "the last person we would expect," Dr. Glen Gabbard told a crowd at a recent Manhattan conference.

"We all have to practice as if this could happen to us - it's an occupational hazard to which we are all vulnerable," said Gabbard, a psychiatrist who treats peers for sexual misconduct.

The conference focused on the HBO show and "erotic transference," a Freudian phenomenon in which patients develop romantic feelings for their therapists.

Sex with patients is a felony in California and eight other states, but not in New York.

Sultry prison psychologist Magdalena Sanchez, 35, pleaded guilty this month to lying about having sex with a 29-year-old alleged Bloods gang member in the Brooklyn federal lockup. Sanchez, married to a Wall Street trader, was caught on tape in steamy cellphone conversations with the prisoner.

Kips Bay psychologist Mary Anastasiow, a 55-year-old married mom, had sex 10 times in her office and minivan with a smitten female patient distraught over her dead cat, Peaches.

"It was the most passionate kissing and hugging I have ever been involved in," patient Susan Yellin said of the writhing and "moaning" on the therapist's couch.

But when Anastasiow suddenly dumped her - as both a lover and a patient - Yellin was crushed. "I felt so deeply abandoned," she said.

Yellin sued and settled for a confidential sum. Anastasiow lost her license.

Former Santa Barbara County psychologist going to trial for sex crimes

From this report on KSBY channel 6 in California

The case against a former Santa Barbara County psychologist accused of sex crimes will go to trial.

Fernando Cordero faces 12 felony counts, including rape, as well as two other misdemeanor counts. There are seven alleged victims so far.

On Monday, Judge Zel Canter raised Cordero's bail to $1.1 million dollars.

Fernando Cordero has had a psychology license since 1990. He most recently worked at Santa Barbara County Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services. Now, he will stand trial to see if he abused that power.

Once believed to be a trusted doctor in the country, Fernando Cordero now will stand trial for the alleged rape, sodomy, and forced oral sex against former patients and even a former student.

An Allan Hancock College spokeswoman confirmed the former court appointed psychologist taught courses there. That included human sexuality, psychology, and race and ethnic relations, from Spring 2005 and Fall 2007.

This news, a shock to education student, Heather Brown.

"It's really creepy, to know that there's a teacher here that could possibly be doing that kind of stuff," Brown said. "It's kind of scary, but I'm glad I wasn't in his classes."

Deputies arrested Cordero at his Orcutt home back in November. With seven alleged victims so far, district attorney Ann Bramsen isn't ruling anything out.

"I think there's a potential for more victims, and I hope if there are, that they call the Sheriff's Department and come forward and report because it's very important that we stop him from any future victims," Bramsen said.

A sheriff's spokesman says many of his patients at Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services were afraid of reporting Doctor Cordero for fear of not being believed, going to jail, or being deported.

"I hope that we have justice for the victims," Bramsen said.

That answer, soon to be left to a chosen jury.

Action News was unable to reach Cordero's attorney today. However, in previous interviews with Action News, Michael Scott says his client is a "well respected professional" and hopes that he does return to his practice.

Cordero remains in custody. He will appear in court next week on a bail hearing.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: Nurse Ratchet Alive and Well in Australia

From a report in the Sydney Morning Herald

The Tasmanian government is under pressure to resolve allegations of bullying and sexual assault at a Launceston hospital following a report finding abuse complaints were ignored.

An independent investigator was called in to audit Launceston General Hospital's acute mental health unit - Ward 1E - after new claims of patient sexual abuse last June.

The report, by Australian College of Mental Health Nurses president Peter Santangelo, found complaints were either ignored or dismissed as trivial.

It also found staff had inconsistent views about what constituted a complaint or incident for review.

"Of particular concern were disclosures of sexual assault, the subject of recent allegations, which were reported to be either ignored or dismissed as trivial or unreliable because of the mental state of the client making the allegation," Mr Santangelo said in the report.

He said patients feared retribution if they reported abuse.

The audit is the second critical report on Ward 1E in three years.

It also exposed a culture of staff bullying, led by a small, powerful group of psychiatric nurses who were "resistant to change, self-serving, breached rules and regulations and ignored clients".

"No one dares complain about them for fear of retribution," the report said.

Mr Santangelo found 22 of the 26 recommendations made in a 2005 report on 1E by the Health Complaints Commissioner had been implemented.

He made 38 further recommendations, which Tasmanian Health Minister Lara Giddings has committed to adopt.

They include better complaints handling, clinical supervision for staff and staff education and training in relation to workplace harassment policies.

Whistleblower and former mental health nurse Leila Rossiter said she was disgusted there had been two investigations in three years and the problem had not been resolved.

"It's absolutely soul destroying what's happening there," she told ABC Radio.

"I remember when it all came out a few years ago, like trying to tell people that it was the tip of the iceberg ... and it's very disappointing to see that it's still happening at 1E."

[...]

Psychologist charged with filing false rape report to cover up a marital affair.

From the Pioneer Press

A psychologist who claimed she was raped by a patient in her Selby Avenue office lied about the incident to cover up her extramarital affair with the man, according to a court document.

Jill Marie Ajao, 41, was charged Friday in Ramsey County District Court with falsely reporting a crime, a misdemeanor.

A call left at her home in St. Paul was not immediately returned.

On Oct. 26, 2006, police responded to a call from Ajao at her office, where she appeared "crying and visibly upset," the complaint said.

The complaint goes on:

Ajao told police that two days earlier, a new patient named "Jeff" had come in for a scheduled appointment at 2 p.m. During the session, "Jeff" raped her, she said, providing specifics of the rape.

The next day, police contacted a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension sketch artist, who worked with Ajao to design a likeness of the suspect.

The day after that, Ajao changed her statement, saying she'd met the man at a bar down the hall from her office. She also said she had been at a sexual aids store called the Love Doctor on University Avenue and speculated that the man had seen her there and somehow found out who she was.

On Oct. 30, police interviewed a witness from the bar, who said she recalled Ajao being there with a man, and that they seemed familiar to each other. Police released to the media a surveillance photo of the man leaving the bar and received "hundreds" of calls in response from the public.

In January, Ajao met with St. Paul police Sgt. Paul Schnell at her request - changing her story again.

This time, she said she met a man online, and they got together Oct. 24 when she called him. She told police "there was an expectation that there would be no sex" but that her real intention was to "surprise and pleasure her husband" by putting an encounter together.

It was not immediately clear what she intended regarding her husband.

Still later, in February, Ajao sent an e-mail to the man, which was obtained by police. In it, the man asked if she "finally admitted that the encounter was consensual and that she claimed rape to cover up an affair." She replied that she had.

Police said the case is highly unusual and emphasized that real victims would be believed, as Ajao initially was

Psychologist Accused of Rape Faces More Charges

Via KEYT 3 TV

The Santa Barbara County psychologist accused of sexually assaulting his patients appeared in court to face new charges today [Monday].

Fernando Cordero faces two additional charges, one for felony sexually battery and another for felony dissuading from cooperating with the third victim, Jane Doe victim.
Santa Barbara Sheriff's Detectives say there are now four possible victims linked to Dr. Cordero. The latest came into Sheriff's recently and Cordero was taken into custody just last Friday.

Cordero appeared in court last month, with his wife, to plead not guilty to seven felony counts involving one patient and a misdemeanor count for another.

Victims claim Cordero coerced them into a sexual relationship while they were patients at the County Alcohol Drug and Mental Health Services Facility in Santa Maria. Bail has been increased from $100,000 to $250,000.

Spokane psychologist accused of seducing patient

From KREM and KING 5 TV, with a video report available on at the link.

UPDATE: More in this report from the Spokesman review, which also has a copy of the complaint

---

A lawsuit filed in Superior Court in Spokane Monday claims a Spokane psychologist used his position to seduce a patient.

According to the complaint, the Dr. John Moulton committed multiple acts of malpractice and negligence while treating a female patient.

Malpractice cited in the legal complaint against Moulton includes: seeing the patient outside of treatment sessions, buying her alcoholic beverages, consuming alcohol with her, and other boundary violations and negligent acts of both a sexual and non-sexual nature.

Among the allegations detailed in the complaint, Dr. Moulton sent emails to the patient where he admitted to her that he acted like an abusive predator: "I have acted like an abusive predator, which may be the most despicable kind of person there is."

The alleged malpractice began after the patient, who suffered from severe depression, checked herself into Spokane's Sacred Heart Medical Center in April of 2005. The hospital assigned Moulton to be treating psychiatrist. During this two-week hospital stay, the psychologist administered a series of nine electro-shock treatments to patient.

Following discharge from the hospital, the patient returned to her family in Alaska. On June 1, 2005, she again traveled to Spokane and re-entered Sacred Heart for additional treatment for depression. Again, Dr. Moulton was assigned to be her treating psychiatrist, and according to the patient's attorney, Michael S. Kolker, who said it was during the second hospital visit that Moulton told the patient he had feelings for her.

Upon her discharge from Sacred Heart on June 12th, Moulton arranged for the patient to spend time at an in-patient facility in Lake Chelan for continuing treatment for her depression. According to Kolker, Moulton drove the patient to the Spokane airport for the flight to Lake Chelan, and kissed her before she boarded the plane.

On June 23, 2005, the patient returned to Spokane to stay at the home of her brother for continued outpatient treatment with Moulton, whose boundary violations and acts of malpractice continued.

According to Kolker, for nearly a month while he was supposed to treat the patient for depression, Moulton saw the patient almost daily outside of therapy sessions. He took her out to bars and restaurants, consumed alcohol with her, fondled and kissed her.

"When a psychiatrist does it to a patient, it's not dating and it's not a relationship. It's a boundary violation and it is abusive," said Kolker.

Moulton then told the that he loved her and tried to convince her that she was in love with him. They made plans for the future. The suit said Moulton did all of this, knowing the patient was married and the mother of three children. He also knew she was on medication and had giving her multiple sessions of electro shock therapy.

In August, the patient's husband discovered Moulton's malpractice and confronted him. According to allegations in the complaint, Moulton sent the patient and her husband a number of emails in which he admitted and apologized for his misconduct. Excerpts of some of those emails are included in the complaint.

The complaint further alleges that Moulton's negligent conduct caused the patient exacerbated depression, pain and suffering and two suicide attempts.

UPDATE: More in this report from the Spokesman review, which also has a copy of the complaint

Local psychologist booked on suspicion of raping patient

From KSBY 6

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Deputies arrest a former clinical psychologist on rape charges. Doctor Fernando Cordero used to work for the county's Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services in Santa Maria.

Deputies say a woman currently in jail accused Cordero of coercing her into a sexual relationship for more than three years by threatening to have her put back in jail. While investigating, another former patient said she was propositioned and accosted by Cordero.

Deputies arrested Cordero at his home in Orcutt last Friday.

Detectives are in contact with a possible third victim and believe there may be more.

See also this report from the Santa Maria Times

An Orcutt psychologist has been arrested on suspicion of raping a 44-year-old female patient while he was working for Santa Barbara County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services, sheriff's officials said Thursday.

Fernando Cordero, 65, was arrested at his Orcutt home Nov. 9, according to a Sheriff's Department press release.

The woman, who is now in County Jail on theft charges, told investigators late last month that she was coerced into a sexual relationship with Cordero more than three years ago, when she was his patient at a county ADMHS facility on Foster Road in Santa Maria. He allegedly told her he would put her in jail if she did not comply with his sexual demands.

During the investigation, another former patient of Cordero also came forward with allegations that he had propositioned her to have sex and had physically accosted her, a sheriff's spokesman said.

Cordero apparently “has targeted Hispanic females with past abuse, mental health issues and questionable legal status in the United States,” added Sgt. Erik Raney.

Cordero was jailed on suspicion of committing rape under color of authority and subsequently released, after posting $100,000 bail. No information was available about when his court arraignment is scheduled.

Detectives are asking that anyone with relevant information about Cordero, or other potential victims, call the Santa Maria sheriff's substation at 805-934-6170.

Psychiatric hospital kept quiet about sexual assault

From the Ha'aretz Newspaper

A psychiatric hospital in the Galilee failed to report a sexual assault that occurred last summer between two patients, a male and a female, Haaretz has learned.

The 73-year-old male attacker was removed from the unisex psychogeriatric department at Mizra Psychiatric Hospital, where the assault had occurred in July. But some months later, the doctor in charge decided to transfer him back and house him with female patients.

The decision to move the attacker, a convicted killer diagnosed with schizophrenia, who was transferred to Mizra in May, prompted one of the institution's senior physicians to complain to management about potential risks. The senior doctor warned that returning the man to the mixed department put female patients in danger of being sexually assaulted.

The attacker, who had been convicted 24 years ago of killing his wife and one of his daughters, was eventually removed and transferred to an all-male ward.

The assault happened at night, when the attacker entered the room of a disabled 60-year-old woman suffering from severe dementia. He reportedly climbed in bed with her and started groping her breasts. Nurses removed the man after the victim yelled for help. The man reportedly told the doctor on duty that he had tried to have sex with the woman.

Sources in the Health Ministry told Haaretz that although Mizra's management had defined the assault as a "severe incident," it was not reported to the ministry, the district psychiatrist or the police. Additionally, the hospital did not report the incident to the victim's family. The woman is now hospitalized elsewhere, at a care facility in the center of the country.

By not reporting the incident, Mizra's management may have violated the ministry's protocol for such incidents. Proper procedures require all hospitals to "report any unusual event that could put patients in danger, and inform police of any case involving a suspected criminal offense."

In the ministry's official reaction, its spokesman said: "We do not view this case lightly, nor does Mizra's management. However, this is not the sort of event that requires hospitals to contact the ministry or the district psychiatrist and inform them about the circumstances of that occurrence."

The ministry went on to explain the hospital is exempt from reporting the incident because it does not involve "significant damage" to the patient or death, "as stipulated in the health ministry's orders to hospitals and medical institutions."

But a Health Ministry official told Haaretz there is no doubt in his mind that both from the moral and legal perspectives, Mizra should have reported the incident. "Mizra's Management had failed to meet the standards for the proper administration of a hospital," the official said.

The ministry learned of the incident only two weeks ago, approximately four months after it happened. The ministry became aware of the assault after the northern district's deputy psychiatrist, Dr. Nabil Gerassi, received the correspondence between Mizra's ward director and one of his senior staff, who warned against returning the attacker to the ward.

The correspondence revealed that the attacker, who after the assault had been transferred to the all-male ward, was transferred back to the unisex department on October 18. Dr. Yuli Wetchkov, head of the psychogeriatric department at Mizra, signed the transfer, based on the request and recommendation of Yulinna Naj, the head of the all-male ward.

The senior physician at Mizra who opposed the transfer, Dr. Michael Segal, then wrote Wetchkov and the institution's management to warn against the move. Upon reading his warning, management instructed Wetchkov to transfer the attacker back to the all-male ward.

Ten days ago, Wetchkov wrote Segal to tell him that the psychogeriatric department's handling of the incident was "professional and appropriate," and that the recommendation that the attacker be transferred back to the unisex ward was "done after much thought," Wetchkov added.

In its official reaction, the Health Ministry told Haaretz: "When the patient was hospitalized, he displayed no signs of violence or abnormal sexual behavior, and there was no reason to refrain from receiving him in the ward. During the two months of his stay before the incident, the man displayed no abnormal behavior.

"The incident itself did not result in sexual intercourse or rape. After the incident, them man was transferred to the all-male ward for two months. He was then put in the psychogeriatric department for a few days, during which he displayed no violent behavior. However, he was then transferred to the all-male department to reevaluate the degree of danger that he might pose to other patients.

"The incident called for an internal inspection, which was carried out and concluded, albeit a few days too late."

Psychiatrist Accused Of Assaulting Boy

More on this troubling case from TMJ TV Channel 4 in Milwaukee

He went in for counseling, but a boy claims a psychiatrist sexually assaulted him instead. The boy says it happened a few years ago in Brookfield.

The suspect is Eric B. Schwietering. He worked at the Cornerstone Counseling Center.

Schwietering remains in custody at the Waukesha County jail on a $50,000 cash bail. This isn't the first time he's been charged with a crime involving children.

Back in May, he pleaded guilty and went to jail for possessing child pornography. This time, the charges are even more shocking: he's accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy.

Even more disturbing, the boy, who is now 14 and living in Iowa, says the assault happened at Cornerstone Counseling Center where Schwietering was his psychiatrist.

Schwietering specialized in child and adolescent therapy.

The boy told police he was at a therapy session when Schwietering abused him.

According to a criminal complaint, the victim told police that he did not tell anyone about the abuse that allegedly happened for almost a year and a half because he says the suspect told him if he did tell anyone, he would hurt him really bad.

"The victim had indicated and you can tell by the complaint that he was absolutely petrified of what might happen because of threats that had been made to him," Barbara Michaels from the district attorney’s office said.

Cornerstone Counseling Services says they fired Schwietering last year after he was charged with possessing child porn.

They didn't talk on camera, but did say: "This is news to us. Our focus is going to be on taking care of our patients."

No one was home when we went to Schwietering's downtown Milwaukee condo to get a comment, but Brookfield residents had plenty to say.

"When someone goes in, and gives them their trust on being treated for a certain disease, and then they get violated, I think he should be reprimanded," Steven Gray said.

Schwietering faces up to 40 years in prison if he's convicted.

Psychiatrist in court for 30-year-old rape

Via this report

A former psychiatrist has pleaded not guilty in Perth Magistrate's Court today to a number of sex offences that allegedly occurred in the 1970s.

Police allege Alan John Stubley was a practicing psychiatrist in Kings Park Road, West Perth at the time of the alleged offences and the victim was a woman who was receiving treatment.

It is alleged the offences, including one count of indecent assault and six counts of rape, occurred during the woman's therapy sessions.

Detective Sergeant Greg Balfour said at a press conference today that the woman had been a patient of Dr Stubley for some years.

Dr Stubley was granted bail and scheduled to re-appear in the same court in December.

Mental hospital under fire for neglect

Another mental hospital under investigation

Wisconsin's state-run Winnebago Mental Health Institute is under fire for poor patient supervision after several incidents in which patients were in jeopardy.

Poor supervision and bad judgment on the part of hospital staff are being blamed for three deaths and one rape at Winnebago, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported.

Almost three dozen acts of violence have been reported at Winnebago, which houses some of the state’s most severely mentally ill patients.

Among the cases recently cited is that of a 15-year-old girl with swallowing problems who, after being taken off her special diet of soft foods, choked to death on a sandwich, the newspaper said.

A 24-year-old patient collapsed and died after staff disregarded her complaints of dizziness. Another woman, who was supposed to be under constant supervision, committed suicide after she was left alone in a bathroom.

Rape is also reportedly an issue at Winnebago, which was cited for an incident in which a 13-year-old boy raped a 14-year-old girl while the two were unsupervised in a shower area.

Winnebago's director, Robert Kneepkens, told the newspaper there has been significant progress toward fixing problems of understaffing and patient neglect.