Acupuncturist Charged with Sexually Assaulting Patient Arraigned

A Redwood City doctor accused of sexually assaulting a female patient during an acupuncture session two months ago pleaded not guilty of sexual battery and sexual penetration charges in court Friday.

During the arraignment, a judge ordered Randall Neustaedter, 65, not to perform any acupuncture sessions or have any visits from female patients without a medical board-appointed chaperone present, prosecutors said.

Nuestaedter is out of custody on $200,000 bail. He’ll appear in court next on Oct. 22 for a preliminary hearing.

Earlier this year, a woman bought three acupuncture sessions with Neustaedter, who lists himself as a doctor of Oriental medicine, at his business on Woodside Road. The woman had found Neustaedter’s business using the online discount service Groupon.

The first two sessions were uneventful, according to prosecutors.

On June 25, the day of her third session, the woman said Neustaedter began fondling her genitals as he was giving her a massage and then pressed his erect penis against her arm. The woman became terrified and left the session, prosecutors said.

When the victim told her friends about the incident, her friends convinced her to call the sheriff’s office.

After the news Neustaedter’s arrest was published, another victim came forward to the sheriff’s office, describing a similar incident at the hands of Neustaedter in Dec. 2013, prosecutors said.

A recorded telephone call between Neustaedter and one of the victims provided further evidence against him, prosecutors said.

The Attorney General’s Office has filed a motion recommending the court suspend Neustaedter’s license to practice, according to prosecutors.

A defense attorney representing Neustaedter was not immediately available for comment.

--Bay City News Service, photo courtesy of the San Mateo Sheriff’s Department