California psychologist Fernando Cordero pleads guilty to sexual exploitation of third patient

May 20, 2009

Psychologist Fernando Cordero was convicted in Santa Barbara County Superior Court of sexual exploitation of a third female patient.  Cordero was previously convicted by jury in April of four felony counts: sexual battery by restraint, sexual exploitation by a psychotherapist and two counts of attempting to dissuade a witness from reporting a crime, related to his contact with two other female patients.  Cordero worked for the Santa Barbara County Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services department until December 2007.  The state suspended his license in January 2008.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on all convictions on July 2.  Additionally, he faces a lawsuit brought by the women he was convicted of abusing, alleging sexual assault, sexual battery, professional negligence, sex with a patient, fraudulent treatment to induce sex, intention infliction of emotional distress, substantive due process violations and negligence in prescribing or administering treatment for mental illness.

(“Cordero pleads guilty to new charge,” Santa Maria Times, May 21, 2009.)