Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 | 11:34 a.m.
North Las Vegas Police have arrested a 44 year-old man, claiming he presented himself as a doctor and then sexually assaulted several people who came to him seeking treatment.
Police say that Juan Alberto Ruan-Rivera administered medications to the victims to make them drowsy, and then assaulted them while they were sedated. Three victims have come forward alleging abuse: a 51-year-old North Las Vegas woman, a 27-year-old woman from Victorville, Calif. and a 5-year-old Las Vegas boy. According to police, the abuse occurred in the suspect’s North Las Vegas home and dates back to at least 2006.
On Feb. 13 police received reports of Ruan-Rivera’s activities after he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery charge, and an investigation was launched. Police received reports alleging Ruan-Rivera claimed to be a doctor, chiropractor or therapist licensed in Mexico. He also claimed to be a distributor of dietary supplements, North Las Vegas Police spokesman Sgt. Tim Bedwell said in a statement.
It appears Ruan-Rivera primarily targeted Hispanics without health insurance.
Ruan-Rivera was arrested Feb. 17 and has been charged with two counts of sexual assault, one count of sexual assault with a victim under 14, one count of violation of a temporary protection order, and one count of attempt to suborn perjury.
Detectives are looking for other victims and witnesses. Since 2006, Ruan-Rivera reportedly spent time in Blythe, Calif., Victorville, Calif., Chula Vista, Calif., Anchorage, Alaska, Texas, and Southern Nevada.
Ruan-Rivera is in custody at the North Las Vegas Detention Center and his bail has been set at $173,000.
Anyone with information is urged to call the North Las Vegas Police Department at 633-9111 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.
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