It's a new form of treatment....honest

California Dentist Says Groping Was Part of Treatment

Woodland, CA — The attorney for a Woodland dentist told jurors that his client massaged women's chests as part of a medical treatment.

Defense attorney Michael Rothschild told the six-man, six-woman Yolo County jury that Mark Anderson was treating his female clients for temporomandibular disorder, or TMD. The attorney says the condition affects the muscles of the upper body.

Anderson faces 19 felony charges for skin-to-skin contact and one misdemeanor for touching a patient's breasts over her clothing. The incidents occurred between February 2005 and his arrest in August 2007 and brought complaints from 14 women.

One of the initial 20 felonies was dropped Monday as Rothschild and Deputy District Attorney Robert Gorman began closing arguments.

Closing arguments were to continue Tuesday before the case was to go to the jury.