Rape Exam of Girl Touches Off Dispute

A physician accused by sheriff’s deputies of mishandling the examination of a 4-year-old rape victim responded Tuesday by alleging that the Sheriff’s Department ignored evidence in order to make a quick arrest of the girl’s 12-year-old cousin.

Dr. Christine Daniel told The Times that as she examined the girl early Monday at Lancaster Community Hospital, she noticed “deep purple” bruises that appeared to be older than the red bruises left by the most recent sexual attack on the girl.

Daniel said she recommended that a specialist, a pediatric gynecologist, examine the girl, but that a deputy refused to allow it.

“I told them I wanted to investigate the whole picture, to find out everything that happened,” said Daniel, of Woodland Hills.

“I think what aggravated the [deputy] was that I wrote in the chart that there was evidence of old marks [from possible previous sexual assaults], and that ruined their theory that this kid was the only one doing it . . . which means they have to find this person. But they want everything quick. I wanted to know, ‘Who else is molesting this child?’ ”

Daniel, 41, has been practicing medicine since 1980. Records of the Medical Board of California show no complaints or discipline against Daniel, who runs a North Hollywood clinic that is primarily for poor patients.

Sgt. Kevin Carney, the supervisor of the Sheriff’s Department’s child abuse detail for the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys, said the department stood by the account of the single deputy, Theresa Dawson, who was in the examination room at the time. He declined further comment. The deputies had alleged that Daniel made the victim wait, treated her roughly and refused to complete the examination.

Also Tuesday, the district attorney’s office filed four child molestation charges against the 12-year-old. The boy, who was on a weekend pass from a group home for troubled children, is being held at Sylmar Juvenile Hall. Authorities said the boy had been the victim of sexual abuse.

The girl underwent further tests at County-USC Medical Center on Tuesday and was released, authorities said.

The controversy began Monday, when Sheriff’s Det. David Fletcher, who works in the department’s child abuse unit, said Daniel made the girl wait 90 minutes before beginning the exam.

But on Tuesday, Daniel said that the girl was forced to wait before receiving the exam because of a hospital policy that requires the presence of a nurse from the Sexual Assault Response Team, a group created by the county to assure victims are treated sensitively and crimes reported properly. The nurse, Daniel said, did not arrive for about two hours after she was called.