| For Immediate Release Case # 10CM07420
December 29, 2010 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
OCDA SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING
POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF MAN
CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING WOMAN WHILE PRETENDING TO GIVE ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY
SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying potential additional victims of a man charged with sexually assaulting a woman in his Santa Ana home under the pretense of performing acupuncture therapy. Thuan Van Nguyen, 56, Santa Ana, will be arraigned on an amended complaint for two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery by fraud, three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery, and one misdemeanor count of practicing acupuncture without a license. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years and six months in jail. Nguyen is out of custody on $25,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 28, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-47, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On July 3, 2010, 38-year-old Jane Doe went to the Nguyen’s Santa Ana home to receive acupuncture therapy. The victim’s mother had met Nguyen at a pharmacy in Westminster and he is accused of claiming to be an acupuncture therapist who could help her with her physical ailments.
Nguyen is accused of taking the victim into a bedroom, which contained no medical or massage equipment, and instructing Jane Doe to remove her shirt and lie on her stomach. He is accused of massaging the victim’s back and then beginning to rub her breasts. The startled victim got up and left the room.
Nguyen is accused of following Jane Doe and convincing her to return to the room by claiming that she will end up with arthritis and back problems if she did not complete her treatment. He is accused of having the victim lie on her back and continuing to sexually assault her by fondling her breasts and vaginal area and rubbing his pelvis against hers. The defendant is accused of telling Jane Doe that the touching was part of the treatment.
Jane Doe reported the sexual assault to the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) the following day.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact SAPD Detective Mike Judson at (714) 245-8378 or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Carl Waddell at (714) 834-7538.
Deputy District Attorney Bobby Taghavi is prosecuting this case.
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