Psychologist Gets Jail Term in Molestation of His Patient

A psychologist has been sentenced to six months in jail for molesting a female patient at his Reseda office.

San Fernando Municipal Judge Michael S. Luros imposed the sentence Tuesday on the man, John M. Woodbury, 60, of Northridge who was in court for the second time for molesting a woman during counseling.

In both cases, the women picked Woodbury’s name from advertisements in a telephone directory, Deputy City Atty. Susan Lopez said.

Last year, Woodbury pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor battery and was placed on probation after a 21-year-old Granada Hills woman accused him of fondling her breast in January, 1984. On Tuesday, Woodbury pleaded no contest to a charge of misdemeanor sexual battery after a 22-year-old woman, also of Granada Hills, accused him of fondling her in February.

In addition to imposing the jail term, Luros placed Woodbury on probation for three years and ordered him to pay $500 to the victim. Luros also ordered Woodbury to pay $5,000 to the Victims of Crime Restitution Fund unless he gives up his license to practice psychology by Jan. 9.

Luros also barred Woodbury, who according to court records has practiced psychology for more than 35 years, from treating female patients or practicing sex therapy during his probationary period.