Girl Charges Rape at Clinic; 2 Men Arrested

Sheriff’s deputies investigating a 17-year-old girl’s complaint that she was raped at an East Los Angeles medical clinic said Wednesday that they arrested two men--one on suspicion of rape and the other on suspicion of practicing medicine illegally.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Dino Fulgoni said the deputies found an apparently illegal medical clinic when they went to a house in the 4000 block of Verona Street on Monday night after the girl reported that she had been raped when she went there for a physical examination.

The officers said they arrested Francisco Arteaga Gomez, 30, for investigation of rape. Arturo Duenas Castillo, 31, was arrested on suspicion of practicing medicine without a license.

The deputies said they believed both had been operating a makeshift clinic in the house for some time. Investigators also said they believe numerous babies have been delivered at the clinic. Many of the patients were illegal aliens, the deputies said.

Fulgoni said Gomez is licensed to practice medicine in Mexico, but not in California.

Fulgoni said investigators would have to determine whether the two men should be the subject of felony or misdemeanor charges of practicing medicine without a license. It would depend, he said, on whether any treatment provided there involved life-threatening situations.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Lauren Weis, in charge of the department’s Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse Division, said it would be necessary to further interview the girl to determine if there was enough evidence to formally charge Gomez with rape.

Detectives expressed concern that Gomez, who paid his $10,000 bail in cash and was released, may flee the state before the matter can be fully investigated and prosecuted.

Castillo also was released on bail.