A New York City urologist received a life sentence Wednesday after previously being convicted of years of sexually abusing patients, some of whom were minors.
Darius Paduch, 57, of North Bergen, New Jersey, worked as a urologist at two leading medical institutions in New York. He was convicted in May of six counts of inducing a person to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity and five counts of inducing a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
Paduch worked as a urologist in New York City from 2003 to 2023 with a specialization in male infertility and male reproductive health.
He enticed and induced multiple victims to travel to his practice office in Manhattan from at least 2007 to 2019, where he would sexually assault them, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York said in a news release.
Paduch would also convince victims to visit other locations in New Jersey to commit sexual abuse, and he continued to do so when he moved his practice to a hospital on Long Island in 2019, federal prosecutors said.
Darius Paduch.
Prosecutors said Paduch masturbated patients during medical appointments, exposed himself to them, groped them and exchanged text messages and emails — including with minors — in which he made inappropriate and sexual comments.
In one case, prosecutors said, Paduch invited a patient onto his boat, where he gave the patient sedatives and masturbated him.
Paduch used his position to make victims believe the sexual abuse he committed was medically necessary, when in reality it was not, prosecutors said. He often instructed victims to make follow-up appointments, which led to years of abuse for some, according to prosecutors.
Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, called Paduch’s actions “perverse and pervasive.”
“Darius Paduch was a sexual predator who preyed on patients seeking treatment for sensitive medical problems,” Williams said in a statement. “He used his position as a renowned urologist in prestigious hospitals to sexually abuse vulnerable patients, including children, to further his own position. sexual desires.”
Paduch was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined later.
Paduch’s lawyer, Michael Baldassare, said in an Associated Press statement that he would appeal in the coming days.
“Dr. Paduch maintains his innocence and we are confident that one day he will be proven right,” Baldassare said.
The lawyer had not responded to an emailed request for comment from NBC News overnight at the time of publication.
If you are a child being abused, or know a child who may be experiencing abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at (800) 422-4453or go to www.kinderhulphotline.org. States often have child abuse hotlines, but if you suspect a child’s life is in immediate danger, call 911.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
