California chiropractor Fernando Juarez Gomez Jr. has been sentenced to six years in prison for committing sexual assault against female patients under the guise of medical treatment at his clinic in Ventura.
A Ventura County judge handed down the six-year prison sentence on August 14. One week earlier, a jury found the 46-year-old practitioner guilty of five counts of sexual assault involving four female patients.
According to a report by People magazine, the offenses took place between 2022 and 2024 at Gomez's clinic, Limitless Functional Therapy, located in Ventura. Prosecutors stated that Gomez touched intimate parts of female patients' bodies during treatment sessions despite there being no medical indication for the physical contact.
Gomez convinced young women that his methods would relieve their physical pain and help them achieve their athletic goals. Authorities said he instead used the appointments for his own personal gratification.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Law enforcement officers arrested Gomez directly inside his clinic on March 21, 2024, after two women reported his misconduct to the police. Subsequent investigations revealed that at least four women had fallen victim to his pretexts, while an additional victim agreed to enter into a pre-trial agreement.
All of the affected women requested that their identities remain undisclosed. During the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor emphasized that the chiropractor had abused the professional trust his patients had placed in him as a doctor.
Clinic Closure and Professional Context
Following the public revelation of the charges and the police investigation, Gomez's clinic was permanently closed.
Chiropractic care is a branch of healthcare focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders. Practitioners primarily use manual therapy, including spinal manipulation and soft-tissue adjustment, to assist patients suffering from pain or recovering from sports injuries.
In California, licensed health professionals are bound by strict ethical regulations and legal boundaries governing physical contact during examinations. Any non-therapeutic or unconsented physical contact during a medical appointment violates professional medical standards and state criminal law.
Ventura, officially known as San Buenaventura, is a coastal county seat situated northwest of Los Angeles along the Southern California coast. Criminal cases in the area fall under the jurisdiction of the Ventura County Superior Court system, where jury verdicts in felony proceedings lead to sentencing by a presiding judge.
