California IN BRIEF : OCEANSIDE : Dentist Sentenced in Sexual Assaults

An Oceanside dentist was sentenced to three years in prison for sexual assault on a dental assistant and two patients. Ovidu Statescu, 69, was convicted 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 patient testified that, before he fondled 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. Statescu denied the charges. Superior Court Judge Raymond Zvetina, however, called Statescu’s behavior “repugnant.” Statescu’s dental license was suspended last year, after the allegations first arose.