| For Immediate Release Case # 05NF3637
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
CHIROPRACTOR SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING FOUR FEMALE PATIENTS WHILE TREATING THEM FOR CAR ACCIDENT INJURIES
SANTA ANA – An Anaheim chiropractor was sentenced today to seven years in state prison for sexually assaulting four patients when they went to him for treatment for car accident injuries. Chi Van Pham, 43, Yorba Linda, was found guilty by a jury on June 3, 2008, of four felony counts of sexual battery by fraud and two misdemeanor counts of battery.
Pham met his victims when they came to him for chiropractic care after being referred to him by attorneys to receive treatment following car accidents. All of the victims were sexually assaulted in Pham’s office, California Clinic located at 2424 W. Ball Road in Anaheim, while he was supposed to be giving them medical treatment.
Between March 1, 2003, and Oct. 31, 2003, Pham sexually assaulted Jane Doe #1 on several occasions by fondling her breasts. On one occasion, Pham put his hand in the victim’s pants and touched her vagina making skin to skin contact. While Jane Doe #1 was visiting Pham’s office between July 1, 2005, and July 31, 2005, the defendant put his arms around the victim, kissed her arm, and rubbed his erect penis against her thigh through his clothes. Jane Doe #1 was 13 to 15 years old at the time of the assaults.
Between Aug. 1, 2005, and Aug. 31, 2005, Pham sexually assaulted 23-year-old Jane Doe #3 by putting his hand inside her bra and fondling her breasts. On at least two occasions between Nov. 16, 2004, and Dec. 4, 2004, Pham molested Jane Doe #4, 25, by touching her breasts and buttocks. Between March 1, 2005, and April 30, 2005, Pham grabbed and fondled the breasts of 22-year-old Jane Doe #5.
During the trial, Jane Doe #2 testified that on several occasions the defendant touched her breasts and buttocks under the pretense of performing routine chiropractic treatment. Jane Doe #2, who was 13 years old at the time of the molest, is Jane Doe #1’s sister. The jury hung on the charges related to Jane Doe #2.
Deputy District Attorney Mark Sacks of the Sexual Assault Unit prosecuted this case.
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