Injunction Bars Psychologist From Practice
An East County psychologist accused of attempting to solicit the murder of a former teacher was ordered Wednesday to stop counseling indefinitely.
Superior Court Judge Kevin Midlam ordered the preliminary injunction against Dr. Donald A. Sonn, 33, who formerly was a marriage, child and family counselor at the East County Counseling Center in Santee.
“It calls for him not to practice either as a psychologist or a marriage, child and family counselor,” said Peter J. Hughes, Sonn’s attorney. “We had filed no opposition to (the injunction) being entered because my client had voluntarily stopped practicing.”
A temporary restraining order was placed on Sonn Dec. 8; Wednesday’s injunction was an indefinite continuation of this order, Hughes said.
Sonn was arrested Oct. 20 and charged with two counts of soliciting the murder of William Yeung, an acupuncturist who instructed Sonn. Prosecutors allege that Sonn attempted to convince one of his patients, and then an undercover sheriff’s deputy, to kill Yeung for $25,000.
A dispute between the two stems from a small-claims suit by Sonn to recover tuition fees from Yeung. Sonn has a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 11.
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