Client Accuses, Pao Vue Vang, Fresno County Health Clinician of Rape
Created on Thursday, 09 August 2012 07:33
By Justin Willis, KSEE24 NewsThe 27-year-old victim was seeing 52-year-old Pao Vue Vang for help with depression.
The victim's family says the assault happened after three or four visits.
Pao Vue Vang is accused of raping a client during a session in his southeast Fresno office on July 27th.
He was brought into the Fresno Sheriff's Office on Monday, and after an interview with detectives, was arrested.
Chris Curtice: "I think there is a certain modem of trust when you have a client relationship and the client puts their trust into you and you take advantage of them."
Vang is an unlicensed clinician for the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health.
The victim had been to his office several times, seeking treatment for depression.
Now, the victim's family members are speaking out about the incident, saying they're even more worried now for her well-being.
To protect the identity of the victim, we are also concealing the identity of her sister.
"It's hard. It's made it hard for us to trust anyone. And just for one person to go through this alone by herself, I think that's really hard. So our whole family has come together to just support her."
Family members say the victim is now afraid to go back to counseling, especially with regard to male counselors.
A sister was hoping that since both client and clinician are of Hmong decent, that it would be an advantage in getting help.
Instead, the family says the suspect took advantage of that cultural connection.
"It's just made it worse for her. It's hard for us to read what she's feeling. Just for her to talk about it, I don't know how anybody can go through anything like this."
Vang has since bonded out, and was not available for comment.
The Fresno County District Attorney's office has the case, but the victim's family worries Vang might leave the country.
Deputies say it's possible Vang may have had other victims, and are urging any there may be to contact the Fresno Sheriff's Office.
Source: http://www.ksee24.com