A local doctor who sexually assaulted female patients has agreed to pay them for their physical and emotional damages, but the amount of that payment remains a secret after a court hearing Wednesday.
Dr. Jeffrey Abrams is serving one year of house arrest for fondling female patients and taking photos of their nude bodies. That sentence is much more lenient than the 20-year prison term recommended by the county probation department. The doctor's victims have not opposed the lighter sentence.
Click here to see more on what Abrams is charged with and what he is accused of doing to patients.
A document filed by a civil attorney who represents 10 of Abrams’ victims notes the women “have received full and complete payment of restitution from defendant Jeffrey Abrams… in accordance with the conditions of the guilty plea and sentencing… in this proceeding.”
As part of his plea bargain in criminal court, Abrams -- who owns real estate worth more than $2 million -- is required to pay damages to those victims.
The amount Abrams is paying his victims was not disclosed at Wednesday's hearing and is not included in the court file, which was closely reviewed by NBC 7 Investigates. Typically, details about victim restitution payments are public record in criminal cases.
The district attorney’s office and one of Abrams attorneys said the amount of restitution in the criminal case is confidential because it was agreed to in settlement discussions in a series of separate civil lawsuits filed against Abrams by his victims.
Civil case settlements are routinely kept secret at the request of both parties.
