Fourth accuser says Las Cruces neurologist groped him
A fourth accuser told a jury Wednesday that a Las Cruces neurologist touched him inappropriately.
Dr. Robert Woody faces four counts of kidnapping and three counts of criminal sexual contact, according to court records.
“Dr. Woody came forward towards me and started examining the left temporal area, but on the same token, was caressing my chest and started asking me if I stroke it and play with it,” said his fourth accuser, who said he works in law enforcement.
The fourth accuser said upon leaving the doctor’s office, he called staff and informed them what he said happened in the exam room. The accuser said Dr. Woody then called him back and told him he was only kidding.
“(Dr. Woody) said, ‘I was just playing with you. Come back. We’ll talk about it,'” the accuser recalled. “I said, ‘No. I’m not going back. I want a refund of my copay.'”
The accuser told the jury he cried on the way home to El Paso before his family instructed him to return to Las Cruces and file a police report.
“Why were you crying as you drove back home?” the prosecutor asked. “Because you don’t expect something like that to happen,” the accuser said.
El Paso County Commissioner Vince Perez testified as a character witness for Dr. Woody. Perez told jurors he sought treatment for bad migraines. Perez also said he learned Dr. Woody had a lot of patients and that led him to believe he has a good reputation.
When the defense attorney asked Perez if he had ever been hugged by Dr. Woody, Perez said they both hugged each other and he did not think it was inappropriate or uncomfortable.
When cross examined by a prosecutor, Perez said he is surprised by Dr. Woody’s admissions to making inappropriate comments to some of his patients. The prosecutor also told Perez it is not unusual to share a hug with someone you have known for a long time. “That is correct,” Perez replied.
Wednesday marks day three of the five-day trial. After two days of trial, Woody’s attorneys will begin their defense later in the afternoon.
