Jairo Rendon, 37, of 41-35 53rd St. in Woodside, was found guilty of four counts of…
By Dustin Brown
A Long Island City dentist was convicted Friday of sexually molesting a patient in 1999 after he anesthetized her for a dental procedure, the district attorney said.
Jairo Rendon, 37, of 41-35 53rd St. in Woodside, was found guilty of four counts of first-degree sexual abuse at a two-week jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Buchter. He is scheduled for sentencing July 2 and faces up to seven years in prison on each count.
“This is a terrible betrayal of trust and a traumatic experience for the young woman,” Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown said. “She had gone to her dentist seeking his professional help and, instead after he had administered nitrous oxide he sexually assaulted her.”
The 34-year-old victim went to Rendon’s office on April 14, 1999, where she was administered nitrous oxide for a dental procedure. While she was under the drug’s influence, Rendon opened her blouse and sexually molested her. The victim discovered the abuse when she awoke to find her blouse open and a medallion she hides in her bra lying on the floor.
At the trial, an expert testified that DNA from semen discovered on the victim’s blouse matched that of Rendon’s.
Although Rendon denied the abuse when the victim immediately confronted him, he made incriminating admissions when she returned to his office outfitted with a recorded device supplied by the DA’s Special Victim’s Bureau, the DA said. He was arrested following that meeting.
Rendon’s lawyer, Jeffrey Granat, said his client maintains his innocence and plans to file an appeal after sentencing.
“As an attorney, I hold in profound respect the determination of any jury in any case, because I know how hard these people work and how much time they devote to the task at hand,” Granat said. “Having said that, both I and Dr. Rendon are profoundly disappointed at the outcome and we do plan on filing an appeal.”
Rendon’s office is located at 45-00 23rd St. in Long Island City.
He graduated from New York University’s School of Dentistry, and he had no prior record of disciplinary action against him.
In 1998, the state Education Department received 948 complaints against dentists, including 32 sexual abuse against patients, the department’s Director of Investigations Dan Kelleher said at the time of Rendon’s arrest.
Reach reporter Dustin Brown by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 154.
