Prison Psychologist's License Suspended

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – A prison psychologist accused of faking her own rape and robbery had her license suspected by the state Board of Psychology on Thursday.

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation psychologist Laurie Ann Martinez, 36, is prohibited from practicing while the board proceeds with its enforcement case. The board is seeking to permanently revoke Martinez's license.

Sacramento police say Martinez conspired with a friend to make it appear as if she had been raped, beaten and robbed by a stranger in an effort to persuade her husband to move out of their Sacramento neighborhood.

She filed the police report April 10 and was arrested in November. Her criminal case is ongoing in Sacramento County Superior Court. She was arraigned on Monday on two felony charges of conspiracy.

"The criminal allegations against Ms. Martinez are serious enough to warrant this action," said Board Executive Officer Robert Kahane. "Our mission is to protect consumers, and we think allowing Martinez to continue to practice poses a threat to consumer health and safety."

Martinez allegedly split her own lip with a pin, scraped her knuckles with sandpaper and had her friend punch her in the face. Investigators say she even ripped open her blouse, then wet her pants to give the appearance she had been knocked unconscious.

Missing from her home were two laptop computers, Martinez's purse, an Xbox video game console, a camera and numerous credit cards that Martinez said the stranger had stolen.

In reality, the items were all at the home of her friend, Nicole April Snyder, authorities allege. Investigators say Martinez had Snyder punch her in the face with boxing gloves they bought for that purpose.

Synder is also facing conspiracy charges.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

The California Board of Psychology has suspended the license of Laurie Ann Martinez, a psychologist employed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation who is accused of falsely claiming to police that she was sexually assaulted.
An Administrative Law Judge granted the Board's request to suspend Martinez's license, prohibiting her from practicing as a psychologist while the Board proceeds with its enforcement case. The Board is seeking to permanently revoke Martinez's license.
"The criminal allegations against Ms. Martinez are serious enough to warrant this action," said Board Executive Officer Robert Kahane. "Our mission is to protect consumers, and we think allowing Martinez to continue to practice poses a threat to consumer health and safety."