Man Who Operated 13 Drug Treatment Centers Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Patients
The case highlights the fact that the treatment centers exist without much regulation or oversight.
Orange County Register:
So-Called ‘Rehab Mogul’ Raped Women, Dealt Drugs In Treatment Centers
A self-dubbed “Rehab Mogul” who operated more than 13 drug treatment centers in Southern California was convicted Monday of rape and drug dealing. In all, Christopher Bathum, 56, was found guilty of 31 criminal counts. A Los Angeles jury also found him not guilty on 12 similar counts and deadlocked on three others. Before he was arrested in 2016, Bathum owned and operated 13 “Community Recovery” treatment centers in Los Angeles and Orange counties, as well as six in the state of Colorado. He faces a maximum sentence of 65 years in state prison for the sex conviction and lifetime registration as a sex offender. (Saavedra, 2/26)
KPCC:
'The Rehab Mogul’ Convicted Of Sexually Assaulting Treatment Center Patients
The Los Angeles District Attorney's office said the victims' ages range from their 20s to their early 30s. It said the 56-year-old Bathum "preyed upon female patients between 2014 and 2016 by providing them with drugs as they battled to overcome their addiction" and then sexually assaulted them "while they were under the influence." (Faust, 2/26)