OC Chiropractor Charged With Molesting 7 Patients In Irvine

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — An Orange County chiropractor with ties across Southern California is facing charges for allegedly sexually assaulting seven women in Irvine under the pretense of treating them, the Orange County District Attorney's office reported Wednesday.

Lincoln Esguerra Carillo, 60, has connections to chiropractic offices in Orange County, Riverside, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, as well as Virginia, where he was arrested last week.

Carillo is charged with 23 felony and 12 misdemeanor counts involving alleged sex acts with the seven patients between April and July 2021, OCDA Todd Spitzer wrote in a statement.

According to investigators, the charges include:

• Seven felony counts of sexual penetration by means of fraudulent representation of a professional purpose.
• Four counts of sexual battery by means of fraudulent representation of a professional purpose.
• 12 misdemeanor counts of touching an intimate part of another person, according to investigators.

He faces up to 24 years in prison, authorities said.

While investigators confirmed seven Irvine women were molested by Carillo, they suspect there may be more individuals who have yet to file reports against him.

Investigators said Carillo is said to have had ties to chiropractic offices in Artesia, Los Angeles, Fountain Valley, Seal Beach, Long Beach, Irvine, Orange, Upland, Cerritos, Costa Mesa, Placentia, Garden Grove, Riverside and Herndon, Virginia.

“Dr. Carillo exploited the high level of trust we place in our medical professionals, to prey upon his victims,” Irvine Police Chief Michael Kent said in a statement. “I am thankful for the brave victim that had the courage to come forward and expose his pattern of abuse. A tremendous amount of investigative work went into identifying and interviewing Dr. Carillo’s patients to locate additional victims and present a case to the District Attorney that would support criminal charges.”

Carillo worked at Twins Chiropractic in Irvine for roughly four years. While employed, he treated a patient several times for chronic neck pain between April and May 2021. During seven of those visits, Carillo reportedly sexually assaulted the woman, who reported the assaults to the Irvine Police Department in May of 2021.

While investigating, Irvine police found six more individuals treated by Carillo at Twins Chiropractic who may have been assaulted between January and August of last year.

“Vulnerable patients seeking chiropractic treatment for aches and pains should not have to worry about being sexually assaulted,” Spitzer said in a news release.

“Chiropractors and other medical professionals are trusted by their patients to treat them with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Instead, this individual preyed on their vulnerability and sexually assaulted them. The Irvine Police Department did an incredible job pursuing a sexual predator and together we will do everything we can to achieve justice for these women.”

Carillo was moved to Orange County on Monday and is currently being held on $1 million bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday.

Residents with additional information are asked to contact Irvine Police Detective Nate Ridlon via email at nridlon@cityofirvine.org.