Dr. Bernard Albina molested his child patients & gave them cash & gifts

[Sister Iroz]

http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo35/Special2bme/albina_20090721155911_320_240.jpg
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston orthopedic surgeon is accused of sexually abusing four children, two of whom are now adults. Dr. Bernard Albina is also accused of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to his victims to allow the abuse to continue.

A Houston police officer speaking about this case called Dr. Albina "the most obsessed child molester" he's seen. Police are now hoping to reach out to other victims.

Dr. Albina was arrested this morning at his home. The orthopedic surgeon is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sex assault of a child and two counts of promotion of child porn. He's accused of paying his victims hundreds of thousands of dollars.

At this point, Houston police have identified four victims, two of whom are now adults and two others who are still children. In fact, it was a victim who initiated the investigation two years ago.

HPD Officer JT Roscoe explained, "A 24-year-old male came to the police department and alleged that Bernard Albina had been sexually assaulting him starting when he was five or six years old, all the way through adulthood."

Dr. Albina's office is listed as being at St. Joseph Medical Center and had been in practice for a long time.

"That's one of the reasons why I've contacted you all," said Officer Roscoe. "(We're) trying to track down, especially with HIPAA laws, trying to track down every patient."

Over at the prosecutor's office, the wait is now on for police to go through hours of videotape of the doctor allegedly grooming and assaulting his victims. Investigators must also comb through several minivans full of other evidence.

"He has been charged," said Assistant District Attorney Eric Devlin. "He's in Houston Police Department jail. He'll be transferred to the county jail at some point in time today and then he'll have his first court appearance tomorrow or the next day."

Police tell Eyewitness News that the money paid out to victims came in the form of cash and gifts, and the assaults allegedly took place at one of the doctor's offices, in his cars and at victims' homes. Anyone with information on other possible victims is urged to call the HPD Juvenile Division at 713... or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6925958&rss=rss-ktrk-article-6925958


HOUSTON - An orthopedic was arrested in connection to a long list of sex abuse charges involving both adults and children, investigators said Tuesday.

Bernard Albina, 69, is being held on a $100,000 bond on charges of two counts of sex abuse of a child and two other felony charges.

Investigators say they're talking to two children Albina is accused of molesting, but they suspect the doctor allegedly has more victims.

Police had to use two vans to seize porn videos, investigators said.

Albina has been practicing since the 1970's and was active in several organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club, investigators said.
http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/090721_doctor_accused_sex_abuse

[mysticviewer]

OMG...The Boys and Girls Club too.....I wonder how many people will come forward. It seems he liked little boys which may make it harder to get people to come forward. I hope they do and get rid of the secret so they can begin to heal if they havent yet and this fucker gets put it in with a bubba with a love for grandpas.

I just cant believe he got away all this time....holy fucking porn collection!
:confused2:

[eliz1bef]

TWO VANS worth of porn? That is insane. This guy has some serious OCD issues on top of being a child rapist.

With someone that driven, with that much access to children, I just shudder to think of the number of victims he might have.

His mugshot has that "well it was fun while it lasted" pedo smile that just makes you want to punch him in the throat. Maybe someone in his Correctional Facility will do the honors with a nice sharpened toothbrush or something.

[myra manes]

Albina needs his nuts removed ..


By Bubba!

[Sister Iroz]

HOUSTON—A prominent Houston surgeon accused of sexually assaulting young boys was released from jail Thursday evening after posting a $400,000 bond.

Dr. Bernard Albina appeared in court Thursday morning. He is charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child and two counts of possession of child pornography.

During the arraignment, the judge took his passport and ordered him to stay away from children and computers. He was also ordered to wear a satellite tracking ankle bracelet.

Prosecutors said Albina allegedly assaulted at least four victims.

In one case, they said Dr. Albina paid a parent for access to a child. In another case, prosecutors said a victim was paid $100,000 to keep quiet.

“We’re going to continue to go through evidence, process everything we did from the search warrant. It’ll be a time-consuming process just from the items we seized,” said prosecutor Eric Devlin.

Since the allegations surfaced, more children have come forward to say they, too, were abused.

“I understand they have other cases that could be filed, but they’re not going to file them at this time but use them as extra or extraneous offenses,” said Carl Haggard, Albina’s attorney.

“This would leave Albina open to more charges if acquitted of the four he currently faces,” he said.

All the children, regardless of whether they were named in the complaint, could testify against Albina.

Albina’s lawyer said the doctor is concerned about how his family is taking the allegations.

“On behalf of Dr. Bernard Albina and the Albina family we ask that people not make judgment at this time,” said Haggard. “Of course he’s very concerned about his family,that was his first words to me, about his family, his family who knew nothing of this.”

Alibina has a wife and three children.

He used to practice orthopedic surgery, but now works on disability cases which involve adults. The judge said Dr. Alibina could continue to practice while out on bond. http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou090723_jj_doctor-sex-assault.6d107c83.html

[Chaindrive]

In one case, they said Dr. Albina paid a parent for access to a child.

WTF??

I hope they'll be arresting that "parent".

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Alleged victims of surgeon accused of child abuse say justice is being delayed
Two years after a well-known orthopedic surgeon was arrested and accused of child abuse, his alleged victims are still waiting for him to stand trial.

In 2009, when Houston police arrested Bernard Albina, one officer said he truly believed a dangerous man had finally been taken off the streets.

"Bernard Albina is one of the most obsessed child abusers I have ever seen since I've been in the unit," said HPD Officer J.T. Roscoe during a press conference.
[...]

"It absolutely disgusts me. He's been staying in his million dollar house this whole time enjoying privileges that a person who does not have money, or who is not a well known physician, would not be able to get away with," said the woman who did not want to be identified.

Checking court documents, KHOU 11 News learned when Albina was released on a $100,000 bond he was ordered not to leave Harris County and was required to check in with the court once a week. But now the judge is allowing him to travel to adjacent counties. Albina has a house on the beach in Galveston. The same court documents show he is now only required to check in with the court once a month.

"Why is he being allowed those privileges when he is being charged with one of the worst crimes against children in Harris County history," Michael Phifer said. Phifer is an attorney representing one of the victims who is suing Albina in civil court.

Phifer showed us court documents that revealed the defense has requested a delay 16 times, and each time it was granted.

Well-known lawyer Dick DeGuerin represents Albina in the criminal case. He said the resets over the last two years were necessary because they were waiting for the prosecution to turn over evidence.

At the time of Albina's arrest, detectives told KHOU 11 News that they filled two van with pornographic pictures and videos.

DeGuerin also said that some resets were required because of Albina's declining health. DeGuerin said his client will need heart surgery soon.

"If he is unhealthy, and can't go to trial, then why is he going to his beach house in Galveston? Why is he going to a lake house in Conroe?" Phifer asked.
[...]

Judge David Mendoza is presiding over the case and has the authority to stop all delays. His office said the judge will make a comment Thursday, but only to one of the victim's family members who has contacted him about the delay.
http://www.khou.com/news/Alleged-victims-of-surgeon-accused-of-child-abuse-say-justice-is-being-delayed---127986108.html

[TheMeaningOfItAll]

This is a total miscarriage of justice. If I were the parents of the abused child, I'd probably just pay him a visit at his him in Galveston and handle the heart problem myself. What a disgusting pig.

[iMphuckedYeeeeeap]

Sorry folks but men of this caliber can afford attorney's who get them off, BIG TIME! The wealthy accused usually sit listening to the small victims graphic testimony of where they were touched, licked, and sucked while the prosperous defendant rubs himself to orgasm under the table. All the while looking straight into the eyes of the tiny victims. In the rare circumstance that they are found guilty it would usually be plead down to a misdemeanor of tripping of a shoelace and whatnot. The defendant usually at best walks out a free man, even a local hero having defeated those naughty little fibbers, at worst he would be sentenced to a four star special accommodations camp where he would collaborate, and combine notes with other more advanced predators on how not to be caught, and continue even more sinister acts.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

A Houston orthopedic surgeon, already facing state child sex abuse and pornography indictments, was taken into custody Monday on similar federal charges.

Dr. Bernard Albina, 72, is accused of molesting prepubescent boys while ingratiating himself with the victims' relatives - allowing at least two families to live rent-free in his houses and paying them hundreds of thousands of dollars - to keep the children quiet. The physician has remained free on state bail with a GPS monitor for more than two years.

He was arrested again Monday at his Piney Point-area home by federal agents, according to his defense lawyer, Dick DeGuerin - a surprise to both the doctor and his attorney.

"There's absolutely no reason for them to run over to the feds to get another indictment based on the same allegations," DeGuerin said. "It's kind of frustrating to me because we've been negotiating with and talking to the prosecutors in state court."

Albina's federal bail determination hearing is set for Wednesday morning, DeGuerin said.
[...]

Resolution of the two active cases has been delayed by continuances; 15 each requested by the defense team and one reset request from prosecutors on the sex assault charge. Both cases are scheduled for trial on May 21.

The doctor also has faced three civil lawsuits from four plaintiffs who said they were sexually assaulted by him. One case was settled in 2010 and a trust fund account was opened for that boy, who is now 14. Another case filed in September 2009 by two plaintiffs was dismissed at their request. A third lawsuit filed last July remains unresolved.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Accused-Houston-child-molester-now-faces-federal-2681530.php