Counselors Suspected of Posing as Physicians

State authorities are investigating a psychological care group whose practitioners allegedly pose as doctors, including one in custody on suspicion of sexually assaulting hypnotized patients, officials said Thursday.

Michael Lamont Buffington, 46, of Northridge pleaded not guilty Tuesday to five sexual assault charges and a charge of attempted sexual assault, Deputy Dist. Atty. Alan Yochelson said. Buffington remained in custody in lieu of $300,000 bail.

Buffington is accused of assaulting two women who went for treatment to Some People’s Children Medical Group, which advertises that it specializes in helping victims of sexual abuse, Los Angeles Police Det. Karen Crawford said. The first woman was allegedly assaulted in 1993, when the medical group had offices on Ventura Boulevard; the second at the current offices at 5435 Cahuenga Blvd.

Crawford said the three or four counselors in the medical group are “psychologist’s assistants,” not licensed doctors. The doctor who is supposed to supervise them has offices in West Los Angeles, and state Board of Psychology investigators are examining whether the counselors practiced medicine without a license, she said.

Buffington’s attorney did not return a telephone call for comment. An answering machine at Some People’s Children referred to “Dr. Buffington.”

Crawford said both victims are in their late 20s and had visited the office several times before Buffington allegedly hypnotized them. The most recent victim reported the abuse to police, who arranged for her to return to Buffington’s office for a session May 10 while under surveillance.