Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Unusual Therapy Cited in Rape Case : Courts: Palmdale woman says a psychologist promised Bible readings and natural medicines would help her. He denies any wrongdoing.

A local psychologist raped a Palmdale woman after he lured the victim to his home by promising that his “unconventional therapy” of natural medicines and Bible reading would help her overcome problems related to sexual harassment at work, a prosecutor said in court Monday.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert Foltz said Charles A. Catanese attacked the woman, a Los Angeles County probation officer, at his home west of Lancaster on Jan. 2, 1992. She had been referred to Catanese for evaluation in a stress claim she had filed against the county.

“In the course of the evening she was there, he assaults her sexually,” said Foltz, during opening arguments in the case. “He kept her there all night.”

Catanese has denied any wrongdoing.

His attorney, Russell Iungerich, questioned the woman’s credibility, saying during opening arguments that the woman did not even see the doctor on the day she was allegedly raped. In addition, Iungerich said, she did not report a sexual assault until six months later.

Iungerich said Catanese was not a practicing therapist and therefore would not offer to treat the woman. In addition, Iungerich questioned why the woman called Catanese after the alleged attack for a number of lengthy conversations.

Contacting an attacker “is inconsistent with someone who’s been raped,” Iungerich said.

Catanese is charged with rape, sexual battery and attempted oral copulation. His case is being heard by Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Howard J. Schwab.

Catanese, 42, is free on his own recognizance, but his license to practice was suspended three months ago by an administrative law judge who ruled that the woman’s story was credible. A hearing to determine if the suspension will become permanent is scheduled for May 12.

The woman who accused Catanese testified Monday that she was referred to Catanese by an insurance company after filing a workers’ compensation claim that alleged sexual harassment by co-workers at a juvenile detention camp.

Both sides agree the 38-year-old woman first visited Catanese’s office at 6360 Van Nuys Blvd. on Dec. 23, 1991, and a colleague of Catanese administered preliminary psychological exams.

The woman testified that she had a short discussion with Catanese during her six-hour visit to his office.

“He said he had developed an unconventional method of therapy that involved Scriptures from the Bible and some herbs,” she said.

Catanese also told her that he practiced homeopathic medicine that featured “herbs and essences of nature that can cure you rather than prescription drugs,” according to her testimony.

While she testified that she agreed to his treatment regimen, she did not schedule any future appointments.

However, over the next several days, she had several telephone conversations with Catanese that resulted in a trip to his house on Dec. 30, 1991. She testified that during a two-hour session with the doctor, he read Scriptures and asked about her health.

Catanese called the woman on Jan. 2, 1992, and said he wanted to see her again, according to her testimony. Because of a car problem, a friend drove her to an auto repair shop in Lancaster, where she met Catanese, who was having his car fixed, she said, concluding her testimony Monday.

Catanese is expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday.

The trial is expected to last three weeks.