Neenah, WI therapist pleads guilty to sexual exploitation

Winnebago County Circuit Judge Barbara Key accepted 62 year old Charles Morgan's plea to 2 counts of sexual exploitation by a therapist in exchange for dismissal of two 3rd degree charges. Formal sentencing will be on February 27, where Assistant Dist. Atty. Scott Ceman will be arguing for prison time. Sexual exploitation by a therapist carries 12 1/2 years and a $25,000 fine per count. Morgan worked for Affinity Behavioral Health in Oshkosh.

According to the criminal complaint, Morgan sexually assaulted a 27-year-old woman, whom he had been treating for bipolar disorder for two years. The woman told Morgan she wanted a different psychiatrist after he kissed her on two occasions while receiving hospital treatment.

Morgan kissed the woman on June 19 while she was receiving electronic convulsive therapy as in-patient treatment at Mercy Medical Center. He kissed her again on June 20.

When the woman told Morgan she wanted to see a different psychiatrist on June 21, Morgan arranged to meet her at his office on Ninth Avenue in Oshkosh. When the two met, Morgan began kissing the woman and having inappropriate sexual contact with her.

Affinity suspended Morgan from his position in June, and his license was to practice medicine was suspended in August, pending the outcome of this case. Since Morgan's guilt, here's hoping that Morgan's license will be permanently revoked.

Menominee Falls, WI therapist charged with sex assault

A Wisconsin therapist was charged on Monday with 6 counts of sexual exploitation by a therapist and other sex charged stemming from involvement with two clients - a 29 year old man, previously abused as a child, and a 39 year old woman. The Sheboygan County Circuit Court will hear the charges against the therapist. Judge James Bolgert will preside over a January 5 court apperance.

John R. Monacelli, 45, lived in Menominee Falls, WI, a suburb of Milwaukee, but worked at Genesis Behavioral Services, in Sheboygan, 60 miles north of Milwaukee.

The 29-year-old man was assigned to have individual counseling sessions at Genesis with Monacelli about Oct. 10, 2007. About Oct. 16, toward the end of a session, Monacelli exposed himself to the man and told him to have oral sex with him, and after the sex act, told the man not to tell anyone else. Monacelli repeated the sex acts during counseling sessions on two other occasions later in October, including one time when the oral sex act was interrupted by a knock on the door by another Genesis employee.

The 39-year-old woman was assigned to have group sessions at Genesis in September 2007 and began individual sessions with Monacelli about Oct. 1.

During a session about a week later, the woman told the investigator that Monacelli approached her, kissed her on the lips and fondled her breasts over her clothing. The next day, she was in Monacelli's office and he exposed himself to her and asked her to perform oral sex on him. That session was interrupted by a knock on the door by another counselor.

In mid-October, the woman said she and Monacelli had sexual intercourse during a session. A few days after that, Monacelli offered to drive her to an appointment in Washington County, and before returning to Sheboygan, he took her to two stores to buy her clothes and cigarettes, but told her to keep the purchases secret. While driving back to Sheboygan, he had her perform another sex act on him.

If convicted on each count, Monacelli faces 45 years in prison and a $150,000 fine. People charged with sexual exploitation of a therapist in Wisconsin face 12 1/2 years in prison and a $25,000 fine per count.

Shrink assaults 6 patients, former student while working for Santa Barbara County and local college

(Originally posted 11-21-07)

Fernando Cordero, 65, was arrested on suspicion of raping a 44 year old parient while he worked for Santa Barbara Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Services, sheriff's officials said November 15th.

According to the Santa Maria Times,

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 believe that there may be others victimized by Cordero. Sexual assault of patients, according to this website, may occur in as many as 12% of the male psychologist population.

Local Psychologist Booked On Suspicion Of Raping Patient

(Update 12-2-07) It looks like another victim has been found. Cordero was released, and then rearrested November 30th after a fourth patient claimed he coerced her into sex. "We found a fourth victim that alleged she was coerced into a physical relationship with Dr. Cordero spanning several years. Based on that and some credible information we received, he was planning on fleeing the country because of these allegations," said Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department Sgt. Erik Raney. Cordero is being held on $250,000 bond.

(Update 1-9-08) Three more victims have been found, bringing the total to seven. and Cordero faces a dozen charges of rape. One of the victims was a former student of his.

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."

"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," [District AttorneyAnn]Bramsen said.

Bail was raised to $1.2 million from $250,000 by Judge Zel Canter.