Chiropractor sentenced to 24 years for sexual assaults

With the focus on teacher-student sex, one tends to forget that other fiduciary relationships can feature boundary violations. These can include the therapist and the patient, the preacher and his parishioners (not just Roman Catholic priests and young boys), and guards with jailers. Each incident of sexual abuse or assault brings just as much damage to the victim as a teacher-student case. Each incident leads to lack of trust in men, a distorted sense of normalcy, and greater chance of victimization by other sexual predators. This story features a chiropractor who used his practice as a hunting ground for vulnerable female prey.

Thomas Francis Dickershaid, 66, a former chiropractor in Westchester, CA was found guilty of raping 5 women between August 2004 to September 2006, including a woman who was interested in applying for a job at his office. Ages of the victims range from late 20s to their 60s. LA County Superior Court Judge Katherine Maier denied Dickershaid's request for a new trial regarding his September 26th conviction of 11 counts of sex charges including forcible rape, sexual battery by restraint, sexual battery by fraud and sexual penetration with a foreign object.

Dickershaid "used his business as a front to sexually assault unsuspecting patients. He preyed upon these women, who were oftentimes alone in his office, completely defenseless." Deputy District Attorney Lisa Houle said. "And he abused his power and the trust that's vested in him as a doctor."

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Chiropractor Gets 24 Years For Rape, Battery