Chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting seven of his patients at California clinic
.jpg "A chiropractor is facing charges of sexually assaulting seven women while treating them at a clinic in California, officials said.")
A chiropractor is facing charges of sexually assaulting seven women while treating them at a clinic in California, officials said.
Lincoln Esguerra Carillo, 60, was transported to Orange County on Monday, July 11 after being arrested in Virginia last week, according to a news release from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
“Vulnerable patients seeking chiropractic treatment for aches and pains should not have to worry about being sexually assaulted,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the release.
Carillo’s lawyer did not respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment by time of publication.
For four years, Carillo worked at Twins Chiropractic in Irvine, officials said. Between April and May 2021, he treated a female patient for chronic neck pain. The woman accused Carillo of sexually assaulting her during seven visits.
She reported the assaults to the Irvine Police Department in May 2021, officials said. Subsequently, police found six additional victims who were “treated by Carillo at Twins Chiropractic between January and August of 2021.”
David Clements from Twins Chiropractic told McClatchy News in an email that the company is “taken aback and appalled by the allegations against” Carillo.
“During our 11 years of care this is something we have never stood for, and as it will always be, our only concern is if for the safety and well-being of our patients,” Clements said.
“Dr. Carillo exploited the high level of trust we place in our medical professionals, to prey upon his victims,” Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent said in the news release.
Carillo is facing 23 charges related to the incidents, including “seven felony counts of felony sexual penetration by means of fraudulent representation of a professional purpose, four counts of sexual battery by fraudulent representation of a professional purpose, and 12 misdemeanor counts of touching an intimate part of another person,” according to officials.
Carillo faces a maximum prison sentence of 24 years, officials said. He is being held on $1 million bail and expected to be arraigned Friday, July 15.
As Carillo also has ties to practices in 13 other cities in Southern California including in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties and one city in the state of Virginia, officials believe there may be additional victims, according to the district attorney’s office.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Irvine Police Detective Nate Ridlon at nridlon@cityofirvine.org.
This story was originally published July 14, 2022 at 7:17 PM with the headline "Chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting seven of his patients at California clinic."
