CARLISLE, PA (WPMT) A doctor with offices in Cumberland and Franklin counties is charged with multiple counts of rape and over prescribing narcotics to his female patients.
According to the District Attorney’s office, Dr. Jay J. Cho, 70, arrest follows an investigation that began several years ago. The Cumberland County Drug Task Force had received information that Cho was a “candy doctor”, who would give out prescriptions for controlled drugs with little or no medical reason. In addition, in 2010, a patient of Dr. Cho had filed a police report with Hampden Township Police alleging a sexual assault. However the report was never followed through.
The investigation became active again in May 2014 following another report to Hampden Township of a sexual assault by Cho on a female patient.
An affidavit of probable cause listed numerous and repeated examples of Cho sexually assaulting patients, giving them large amounts of serious controlled substances, meeting with female patients with no staff member in the room and repeatedly meeting with female patients outside of the times of their visits.
Interviews with the 12 victims, each unknown to the other, in the criminal complaint all provided similar stories and a common method of operation by Cho. He would prescribe strong narcotics such as Oxycodone which has a high potential for abuse and addiction. Once his patients were “hooked” he would use their drug addiction as leverage to commit sexual assaults. The alleged assaults happened in Cumberland and Franklin counties.
Following arraignment, Cho was released after posting $375,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week. Anyone who may have information relating to the case is asked to contact Upper Allen Township Police at (7170 850-8273.
