L.A. physician convicted of sexual assault

Dr. Kevin Brown, a South Los Angeles physician and son of a former premier of Bermuda, was found guilty Monday on 21 charges related to sexual assaults on nine female patients, including a 15-year-old and an undercover police officer.

Brown was found guilty on counts that included sexual battery by fraud, sexual exploitation by a physician and lewd act upon a child. The jury deadlocked on eight other charges.

As Los Angeles County Superior Judge Michael E. Pastor read the verdicts, Brown shook his head incredulously and looked back several times at family members seated in the second row, including his father, former Bermuda Premier Ewart Brown.

Brown, who had been free on $4-million bond, was immediately handcuffed and taken to county jail.

For the record: A previous version of this story incorrectly reported Kevin Brown’s bond as $49 million. The correct amount is $4 million.

Defense attorneys said they plan to file a motion for a new trial on most, if not all, of the guilty verdicts. The physician waived his right to a speedy sentencing.

“We’re extremely disappointed in the outcome,” defense attorney Edi Faal said. “The sheer number of alleged victims was a major hurdle to overcome.”

He said the jury — eight men and four women — focused on the number of victims and did not evaluate them individually. He insisted that all of Brown’s accusers lacked credibility.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Ann Marie Wise said she was “very pleased” with the outcome and said Brown got a fair trial.

“I don’t believe there are legal grounds” for a new trial, she said.

Wise said that Brown, who will be stripped of his medical license, could face almost 17 years in state prison.

The case, closely watched by media outlets in Bermuda, went to the jury Thursday.

In closing arguments last week, Wise said Brown used his Crenshaw Boulevard practice as “his personal playground,” where anyone who went in “was his prey.”

Faal called the accusations lies and said authorities had a vendetta against Brown because he had been acquitted in two other sexual assault cases. He also alleged bias because of one the accusers is the niece of a Los Angeles police officer.

Prosecutors relied heavily on testimony because no physical evidence was collected and some of the women had waited years to report Brown.

At the time of his 2008 arrest, Brown was known for organizing charity fundraisers at the Playboy Mansion that attracted Don Cheadle, Shannon Elizabeth and other celebrities. He also operated the now-defunct Urban Health Institute of Los Angeles, which provided disaster relief in the U.S., South America and Africa.

ricardo.lopez2@latimes.com