An Orange County physician stands accused of molesting female patients under the guise of medical exams, a sordid revelation that has the local authorities on the hunt for other potential victims. Dr. John Carl Hoefs, a 79-year-old hepatologist with credentials at prestigious medical institutions like Hoag Hospital and UC Irvine Medical Center, is currently facing a slew of felony sexual battery charges.
With a rap sheet that includes seven serious felony counts, Hoefs, if convicted, could face up to a decade behind bars, his case is a stark reminder of how predators can lurk even among the white-coated echelons of trust; he allegedly indulged in the vile act of groping not one, but two of his patients, women who had sought medical help only to be violated multiple times, one of them reportedly during five separate appointments starting in 2020 when she came to him for her liver condition and he would expose and grab her breasts. The other patient was abused in 2016 and again in 2017, illustrating a pattern of horrific behavior spanning years. Hoefs has since been arrested on May 3, but after posting a $500,000 bond, he's out awaiting his June 13 arraignment in Newport Beach's Harbor Justice Center, said the official press release.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer minced no words in denouncing the alleged actions, declaring that "Sexual predators come in all forms and in all walks of life – even ones wearing white doctors’ coats,” women who seek life-saving treatments shouldn't expect such an egregious breach of ethical conduct, it's a betrayal of the trust they've placed in their healthcare provider, the DA assured the public that this kind of misconduct will be met with zero tolerance.
The search for justice is far from over, authorities are actively seeking the public's assistance in building their case against Hoefs, any additional information or potential victims should come forward and contact Irvine Police Department's Detective Rebecca Steen at (949) 724-7170; the aim is to uncover the full extent of Hoefs' actions and deliver due consequences. The case, being handled by Senior Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver of the Sexual Assault Unit, is set to be another stepping stone in the fight against abuse masquerading as medical care.
