Former patient accuses Las Cruces doctor of fondling him, asking if he was gay
A former patient of a Las Cruces neurologist told a jury that the doctor fondled him and asked if he was gay during office visits.
“In a caressing, emotional manner, (he made) comments on how muscular my rear end is,” the former patient said. “I just (wanted) to get help from a man in a position of trust.”
Dr. Robert Woody faces multiple counts of first-degree kidnapping and criminal sexual contact, according to court documents. The Chaparral resident had a private practice in Las Cruces that is now closed.
“He just kept on soliciting, trying to pull information about how many sexual partners I’ve had,” the former patient told the jury. “‘I know you get all the ladies’ (and) ‘Look at you, you’re perfect.’ Building this ego thing. I’m like, ‘No, I’m here for a neurological head issue that’s really severe.'”
The former patient testified on day two of the five-day trial. He said he grew increasingly uncomfortable in his four visits with the doctor.
“He just stared at me and stared right at my mid-area and asked me if I was gay,” the former patient said. “My sexual preferences, if I was into men and women – my background. But then we started – it got to a point where I said no!”
The former patient also accused the neurologist of touching his nipples inappropriately. “He pinched them and rolled them,” the former patient said. “I made eye contact to him because I knew that was one, inappropriate, but it just didn’t seem right.”
Another accuser told the jury the doctor would ask him if he was gay and what his favorite sexual position was.
“I stood up and he hugged me and he started kissing me on the neck and telling me he felt love and affection for me,” the accuser said, “At that time, I felt his erection on my leg. He wouldn’t let me go. I felt helpless.”
The accuser told the jury he was “really weak and very skinny, so there was really nothing I could do. I was hoping it would stop. He kissed me on the neck again and told me he couldn’t wait for our next appointment. ‘We could do this all day, but then nothing would be done for either us.’
The jury is composed of two men and twelve woman. Daniel Sewell and Heather Chavez are prosecuting attorneys. Jim and Jeep Darnell are defense attorneys.
