Kaweah Delta Mental Health Center Rapist Accepts Plea Bargain

Survivor Files Civil Suit

VISALIA, Calif., July 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- One of the women who survived being raped by her Kaweah Delta mental health worker Timothy Michael Pohl, has filed a civil law suit against the self-admitted rapist, the health center, the hospital, the County of Tulare, and the State of California.

At his July 26 preliminary hearing, Pohl, 29, accepted a plea bargain of 25 years for the rape of two women who were patients of Kaweah Delta Mental Health Center, also known as Cypress Mental Health Center, and who were under his care. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 27, 2013.

Julie Lai v. Kaweah Delta Health Care District; Kaweah Delta Medical Center; Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital; State of California; County of Tulare; Timothy Pohl; and Does 1 – 50 (Case #252587) was just filed in Tulare County Superior Court. The complaint seeks damages for battery, assault, sexual battery, gender violence, violation of the Ralph Civil Rights Act, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, dependent adult abuse, and negligence.

"When you enter a hospital you are at your most vulnerable," says Los Angeles-area personal injury attorney Jim Pocrass of Pocrass & De Los Reyes LLP. "You trust the hospital and the healthcare workers they have hired with your care and safety. Kaweah Delta Health Care District betrayed Julie Lai's trust and allowed her to be victimized by an individual who was there to care for her."

Lai had checked herself into Kaweah Delta Mental Health Center for nine days. On Aug. 22, 2012, she was in the shower when her health care worker, Pohl, attacked and raped her on the shower's concrete floor. She managed to take his DNA and put it in a nearby towel and stuffed the towel in her sock, which she saved as evidence for the police. The police later confirmed it was Pohl's DNA.

On Aug. 27, 2012, Lai reported the sexual assault to the Visalia Police Department. On Aug. 28, 2012, another woman, also a patient at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital, reported that she was sexually assaulted by her assigned health care worker, Pohl.

"We believe that Pohl assaulted at least two other women during the four months he worked at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Center," says Pocrass. "Men like Pohl don't rape once or twice. We are tracing Pohl's employment record, and I believe we will find a swath of women he has sexually assaulted. He didn't begin his career as a rapist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital.  But Julie Lai and the other women who come forward are ensuring that Pohl's career as a rapist is finished."

For more information, contact Jim Pocrass at Pocrass & De Los Reyes at 310.550.9050 or visit www.pocrass.com.

CONTACT: Geri Wilson
The Jonathan Group
626.487.2235 (24/7)
[email protected]

SOURCE Pocrass & De Los Reyes LLP