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California military base psychologist accused of rape

Posted May 15, 2018 7:00 am

The Associated Press

FAIRFIELD, Calif. (AP) - A clinical psychologist hired by Travis Air Force Base in California to help military veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder has been arrested and charged with raping patients.

The Daily Republic in Fairfield, California reports Heath J. Sommer was ordered Monday to stand trial on three felony sexual assault charges after he allegedly targeted female service members in 2014 and 2015 while working at the base's David Grant Medical Center.

Sommer was arrested earlier this month and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

A telephone message for his attorney, Thomas Maas, seeking comment was not immediately returned.

Prosecutors say in court documents the 41-year-old psychologist used a technique called exposure therapy.

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This version corrects that Sommer is a psychologist, not a psychiatrist.

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