Doctor Charged in Rapes Faces 3 New Counts
A West Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon recently charged with raping three female patients was charged Thursday with three counts of sexual battery against two other women, authorities said. The new misdemeanor charges against Dr. Yahya Lavi, 52, were filed in Los Angeles Municipal Court, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Lydia Bodin. Lavi remains free on $500,000 bail after his arrest July 12 on charges of raping and sexually assaulting the three patients.
In all, Lavi faces two felony counts each of rape by use of drugs, sexual battery and penetration by a foreign object; three counts of forcible rape, and one count of forcible oral copulation. He also faces five misdemeanor sexual battery counts. A hearing on the matter, postponed Thursday, was rescheduled for Sept. 12.
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