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OC Man Accused Of Groping Acupuncture Patient

SANTA ANA (CBS) — Orange County prosecutors on Wednesday asked for the public's help to determine if there are any additional victims of a Santa Ana man accused of molesting a woman who came to him for acupuncture treatment.

Thuan Van Nguyen, 56, is charged with misdemeanor molestation, to which he pleaded not guilty Sept. 2, court records show.

But Orange County prosecutors plan to arraign him in January on an amended complaint, charging him with two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery by fraud, three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery and a misdemeanor count of practicing acupuncture without a license, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

The alleged victim went to Nguyen's Santa Ana home July 3 for acupuncture, based on a recommendation from her mother, who had met Nguyen in a Westminster pharmacy, according to prosecutors.

Nguyen, who claimed to be an acupuncture therapist, allegedly took the woman into his bedroom and asked her to take off her top and lie on her stomach, according to the District Attorney's Office. Nguyen allegedly massaged the woman's back before touching her breasts, prompting her to leave the room, prosecutors said.

Nguyen persuaded the woman to return, assuring her he could ease her arthritis and back pain, according to prosecutors. When Nguyen had her lie face-up, he allegedly fondled her breasts and groin as he rubbed his pelvis against hers, according to the District Attorney's Office.

The woman filed a complaint with Santa Ana police July 4. If convicted, Nguyen, who is out of custody after posting $25,000 bail, could face a maximum sentence of four years and six months.

Anyone with more information about Nguyen is asked to call Santa Ana police detective Mike Judson at (714) 245-8378, or Orange County Supervising District Attorney Investigator Carl Waddell at (714) 834-7538.

(©2010 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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.)

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