Neurosurgeon Is Accused of Molestation in Newport

A Newport Beach neurosurgeon was arrested Tuesday on 20 felony counts of molesting and photographing girls who came as patients to his office, police said.

Police said they found more than 400 videotapes and photographs of nude patients in the home and office of Francis J. Williams, 64. He was arrested Tuesday morning on Coast Highway after he left his Corona del Mar home for his office in the 1500 block of Superior Avenue.

Williams was being held Tuesday night in Newport Beach jail in lieu of $500,000 bail, police spokesman Bob Oakley said. He was in custody on 10 counts of child molestation and 10 counts of penetration with a foreign object, Oakley said.

In a brief interview, Williams’ daughter, Jean Newkirk, said the charges against her father are “totally false. Obviously, we are shocked, and there is no basis for the charges.”

Newkirk, standing at the front door of the family’s home on Tremont Lane, said she visited her father in jail Tuesday and he was “fine and calm.” Williams’ wife, who was also home, declined to comment.

An arrest warrant was issued for Williams after one of his alleged victims attempted suicide, and later told doctors during a counseling session of incidents with Williams, Oakley said.

“It became apparent that the individual attempted suicide because of what the suspect had done to her,” Oakley said.

Williams always examined his patients alone and required them to completely disrobe, Oakley said. Doors to the examination rooms always were locked, and patients were photographed on every visit, he added.

Investigators Tuesday searched Williams’ home in Cameo Shores and his office, which is in a small, two-story medical building called Superior Medical Center near Hoag Hospital in the western part of Newport Beach. The sign on Williams’ office door identifies him as a neurological surgeon. A physician who practices in the same building said Williams had moved in about 4 months ago. Williams’ practice was previously listed on Dover Drive in Newport Beach.

Oakley would not disclose the number of alleged victims or their ages, but said all are juveniles. The incidents date back to 1985, he said.

The case, he said, is still under investigation, and he requested that anyone who may have been a patient of Williams to call Newport Beach Detective Mike Morrison at (714) 644-3717.