Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon Accused Of Secretly Filming Female Patients
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A well-known Beverly Hills plastic surgeon was arrested Thursday for allegedly videotaping undressed female patients without their knowledge.
Police detained Dr. Lance Everett Wyatt, 42, of Sherman Oaks on a $50,000 warrant, according to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.
Prosecutors claim Wyatt used a hidden camera to film two women during a post-operative exam. He also reportedly touched one of the patients.
Last August, a patient gave authorities the recorded footage after she realized she was being taped at Wyatt's Beverly Hills office.
Wyatt was charged with four misdemeanor counts of surreptitious filming and one misdemeanor count each of battery and sexual battery.
"Patients deserve to feel safe and secure while in the care of their physician," City Attorney Carmen Trutanich said. "Our charges allege that Dr. Wyatt violated that sacred trust and he should be held accountable."
Wyatt faces a maximum sentence of two years in county jail and lifetime registration as a sex offender if he's convicted of all the crimes.
He posted $50,000 bail.
According to Wyatt's website, he graduated from UCLA, worked as a Fellow at Harvard Medical School, and was named one of the 50 Leaders of Tomorrow by EBONY Magazine.
Client testimonials online described Wyatt as personable and friendly.
Neighbors of Wyatt's Sherman Oaks home said he moved out in the last two weeks.
"I'm just glad he's gone, that's all I can say," said Eileen Cronin.
KCAL9 attempted to get a comment from Wyatt's office, his father's medical office and his parent's home, but no one answered.
(©2012 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
