Oceanside Dentist Sentenced for Sexual Assaults at Office

A former Oceanside dentist dubbed the “Transylvanian tooth butcher” was sentenced to three years in prison for sexual assault on a dental assistant and two patients.

Ovidu Statescu, 69, a native of Romania, was sentenced Tuesday by Superior Court Judge Raymond Zvetina. Statescu was convicted by a Vista jury in February of forcibly fondling and kissing his victims in his dental office.

The dental assistant testified that Statescu fondled her and made other sexual advances. One of the patients testified that, before fondling her, Statescu asked her questions about her sex life.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Gary Rempel said there were at least three other victims, including an 88-year-old woman who testified at the trial. The three-year statute of limitation had already passed in her case.

Statescu denied the charges.

Zvetina, however, called Statescu’s behavior “repugnant” and said his testimony was “rife with perjury.”

“His conduct in carrying out his sexual fantasies upon his dental patients represented an abominable abuse of trust,” Zvetina said.

He said the women were attacked when they were particularly vulnerable, as they were reclined in a dental chair with posts and dental equipment blocking their exit from either side.

Statescu was set free until Monday, when Zvetina said he would decide whether to set bail in order to allow Statescu to go free on appeal.

His dental license was suspended last year, after the allegations arose.