Las Cruces neurologist on trial admits to hugging patients, kissing one on the neck

Speaking to the jury for the first time, a Las Cruces neurologist admitted on Thursday to hugging patients, inviting one of them to dinner and kissing another on the neck.

Dr. Robert Woody is accused of groping several patients behind closed doors and asking if they were gay. Woody faces four counts of kidnapping and three counts of criminal sexual contact.

“Have you ever had a sexual relationship with any patient?” asked Dr. Robert Woody’s defense attorney.

“Never,” Woody said

At one point, Woody clarified his decision to embrace one of his younger accusers in an office exam.

“We both hugged,” Woody said. “This had been quite a traumatic, emotional hour for both of us. I kissed him on the side of the neck.”

“Why?” his defense attorney asked.

“To me, that was an expression of sympathy for what I just heard,” Woody said.

Earlier in the week, several accusers say the doctor fondled them during the exams while asking about their sexual preferences.

“He just stared at me and stared right at my mid-area and asked me if I was gay,” a 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!”

Woody told the jury he is gay on Thursday.

“I’ve never had a patient ask me if I was gay,” Woody said. “I’ve taken care of gay and non-gay patients, I think equally.”

A total of four accusers have testified in the week-long jury trial.

“It has basically been alleged that your patients were sex objects,” said. Woody’s defense attorney. “Is that true?”

“No it’s not,” Woody said.

The week-long trial will continue until Friday. 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.