55-year-old Christopher Bathum, who founded 19 sober-living facilities throughout Southern California, was charged by Los Angeles prosecutors with sexually assaulting nine patients as well as money laundering. He pleaded not guilty to all cases, including 34 counts of sexual assault in addition to 12 counts of furnishing drugs. Prosecutors believe that Bathum sexually assaulted women and in some cases provided them with drugs between the years 2012 and 2016.
In addition, Kirsten Wallace, who is chief financial officer for Bathum and his “rehab” facilities, was also charged with 31 counts of money laundering. Furthermore, there are also charges for grand theft, identity theft as well as insurance fraud. Both Wallace and Bathum were stealing their patients’ identities in order to obtain health policies. What’s more, they were charging their clients for the treatment that those clients were no longer receiving. Overall, according to the prosecution, due to those fraudulent actions insurance companies paid out $44 million.
Unfortunately, the official statistical data clearly indicates that insurance fraud is on the rise these days. Even the most successful people, such as businessmen, medical practitioners, dentists as well as chiropractors, are practicing these illegal activities. They are basically using false insurance claims in order to obtain compensation for damages that never occurred. Furthermore, when it comes to medicine, chiropractors, dentists as well as general practitioners are becoming increasingly eager to risk it and are actively getting involved in insurance fraud. In most cases District Attorneys, Attorney Generals or US Attorneys’ offices are investigating insurance fraud, but when it comes to medical fraud, a Medical Insurance Fraud Defense Attorney may start the investigation as well.
Both Wallace and Bathum were recently arrested when the law enforcement authorities were involved in a raid after sexual assault claims in May. If convicted, both Bathum and Wallace are facing up to 53 years in prison. Furthermore, for sexual assault, Bathum may face life in prison as well.
Sexual assault implies sexual intercourse of any kind without consent. Forced sexual intercourse, fondling, incest, child molestation as well as forcible sodomy are all included in the very definition of sexual assault.
With that said, at times, people get falsely accused of sexual assault. Such cases really exist and in case you believe that charges will be dropped just because they are ridiculous and you never had anything to do with such actions, think again. Such charges are extremely serious and will not simply go away – they may have terrible, absolutely detrimental consequences and you will need to prepare yourself if you are falsely accused of sexual assault. Below are some things that you will be able to do in order to make sure that things are not going to get worse:
- Keep in mind that you must not speak to the police or any investigators until your Los Angeles sex crime lawyer is present. Do not forget that the police will do its best in order to make you confess to any crime, and anything you are going to say will most definitely be used against you. Just politely tell them that you are not going to talk until your attorney arrives.
- Even if you have reasons to believe that the case will be dismissed, do not hesitate to hire a qualified as well as genuinely experienced defense attorney. That way you are going to make sure that the lawyer will be able to gather evidence that will prove your innocence. This means finding witnesses that will testify for you and provide you with an alibi. Furthermore, you should be prepared to submit yourself to numerous psychological evaluations as well.
- Do not forget to get as much information as possible. Even though the criminal defense attorney will do their best to defend you, you will need to have comprehensive understanding of the process as well.
- If you wish to make sure that the case will be dismissed and all those false allegations will go away, you will need to follow all the legal proceedings strictly all the time. This is indeed the best way to go.
If you are interested in a positive outcome and you are hoping that the case will be dismissed, it is very important, crucial even, to ensure that you have a qualified and genuinely experienced Los Angeles sex crime defense attorney by your side throughout the entire process. Otherwise, you may not be able to prove your innocence at all.
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