Community Corner

Case Dismissed Against Dentist Accused of Fondling Patients

After witnesses back out of testifying against San Juan dentist, judge tosses case. Ghassan Mehtar plans to resume dental practice.

Charges were dismissed today against a San Juan Capistrano dentist accused of groping two female patients after witnesses refused to testify at the trial, a defense attorney said.

Ghassan Mehtar was arrested in October 2008 and accused of inappropriately touching a 26-year-old patient and lifting up her clothing to ogle her breasts while she sat in his dentist chair.

Following publicity about the case, two other women came forward to claim Mehtar touched them inappropriately, as well. The alleged victims were Latino and spoke little English, authorities said at the time.

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Mehtar was initially charged with three misdemeanor counts of touching an intimate part of another person, but one charge was dismissed April 5, according to court records.

Deputy District Attorney Paul Brar and Mehtar's attorney, Allan Stokke, were scheduled to begin picking jurors today. "But the witnesses backed out and would not cooperate with the district attorney,'' Stokke said.

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Brar told Superior Court Judge Marjorie Laird Carter he didn't have enough evidence to prosecute without witness cooperation, said Farrah Emami, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney.

So Carter granted Stokke's motion to dismiss the case.

Mehtar was "absolutely ecstatic,'' Stokke said. "Justice was done,'' he said, adding Mehtar plans to continue his dental practice.

-- City News Service


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