Psychiatrist Abner Pasatiempo, Failed to Appear on 2020 Sex-Related Charges, Arrested in Alaska

September 1, 2021

Dr. Abner Pasatiempo, a former Guam government psychiatrist wanted in connection with official misconduct and harassment, was arrested last week in Alaska, according to the Office of the Attorney General.

After his arrest on a Guam warrant, Pasatiempo was released on a $2,000 bail bond and ordered not to leave Alaska, according to the attorney general’s office. The Superior Court of Alaska set a Sept. 30 status hearing for the case.

The attorney general’s office in February filed a criminal complaint against Pasatiempo, accusing him of seven counts of official misconduct and seven counts of harassment. The complaint alleges Pasatiempo engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with patients.

Pasatiempo was hired to work at the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center in 2018, despite previous troubles in the state of Maryland, where medical officials disciplined him for having sex with a female patient.

He completed the terms of his discipline in Maryland, and his privileges were restored.

There were no restrictions placed on Pasatiempo when he worked at Guam Behavioral Health.

Six women in Guam filed complaints against the doctor in December 2019, alleging inappropriate sexual conduct. Pasatiempo was immediately suspended, and he later allowed his Guam medical license to expire at the end of that month.

A seventh patient filed a complaint against him, in January 2020.

The criminal complaint provides details of the alleged inappropriate conduct, stating Pasatiempo asked several female patients sexually explicit questions that made them uncomfortable and touched a patient in a way that made her feel uncomfortable.

He reportedly told several patients they were beautiful, comparing one to Marilyn Monroe, and allegedly offered to pay for an off-island house for one of his patients and her female companion.

According to the attorney general’s office, a Superior Court of Guam judge issued an arrest warrant for Pasatiempo after he failed to appear at several scheduled hearings in connection with the criminal charges.

Although Pasatiempo did not show up for those court hearings, he reportedly appeared virtually for hearings of the Guam Board of Medical Examiners during that same period, according to the attorney general’s office.

Pasatiempo reportedly was trying to get his Guam medical license back in order to allow him to work in Alaska.

Guam Attorney General Leevin Camacho last week discussed Pasatiempo’s case with Alaska Attorney General Treg Taylor, and Alaska law enforcement later took Pasatiempo into custody, according to the Guam AG’s office.

“This should send a clear message that we are carrying through on our commitment to take action against individuals who are alleged to have committed a crime through the abuse of their position with the government,” Camacho said.

The attorney general’s office is contacting the women who filed complaints against Pasatiempo and is working with Alaska law enforcement to decide the next steps in the case, the AG’s office stated.

Source: Steve Limtiaco, “Former GovGuam psychiatrist arrested in Alaska,” Pacific Daily News, Aug. 31, 2021, URL: https://www.guampdn.com/news/former-govguam-psychiatrist-arrested-in-alaska/article_bf09cbac-0abc-11ec-b4c3-3f1954da955b.html