Patients support chiropractor charged with sexual battery

Greg Risling

NEWPORT BEACH -- Patients of a chiropractor charged with inappropriately

touching two women in his office are supporting their doctor while he

awaits trial.

Steven Wesley Lovell was arrested Aug. 12 on two counts of sexual

battery. Lovell has posted $25,000 bail and returned to his practice amid

the allegations.

Several women who spoke with the Daily Pilot said they were shocked when

the charges were made against Lovell. They said they have never had any

problems with Lovell, a man they describe as professional and respectful.

“He never ever did anything out of line while I was a patient there,”

said Mary Stephens, who lives in Oceanside. Stephens suffered from

chronic back and hip pain and saw Lovell at his Newport Beach office

eight months ago. “I can’t believe he would be part of something like

that. I’m very surprised.”

Two women claim that Lovell touched them in a sexual nature while they

were being treated for back injuries. Lovell allegedly sexually gratified

himself during the visits. The two incidents happened seven months apart,

police said, adding that the victims do not know each other.

Ricki Blustein said it’s possible the victims misinterpreted Lovell’s

“hands-on” therapy. She has visited Lovell more than 50 times and said he

never once touched her inappropriately. Blustein, who said she herself

had been a victim of a violent crime, said she would be aware of any such

touching.

“I think I would notice something strange if it happened,” she said. “Dr.

Lovell is a person with a lot of integrity and he is dedicated to his

work.”

Blustein said the charges may be damaging to Lovell’s profession. Lovell

may be subjected to another investigation, this one by the state’s

chiropractic board. A board official said the board hasn’t received a

complaint to date but should an investigation ensue, the consequences

could mean the loss of Lovell’s license.

Stephens said her chiropractor should be praised for his work not

criticized for it. She remembered a friend who twisted his back and

couldn’t get out of bed. She said Lovell brought a portable table with

him to the friend’s house where he worked out the kinks in the man’s

back.

“Lovell went over to my friend’s home several days later to check up on

him,” she said. “He took time out of his busy day. That is the kind of

person he is.”