Bronx DA: Former Chief of Orthopedic Surgery Sentenced to 9 Months’ Jail for Sexually Abusing Patient in Bronx Hospital

FORMER CHIEF OF ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY SENTENCED TO 9 MONTHS’ JAIL FOR SEXUALLY ABUSING PATIENT IN BRONX HOSPITAL

Defendant Found Guilty of Multiple Charges

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that Dr. Woojin Cho, former Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Montefiore Hospital, has been sentenced to nine months’ jail for sexually abusing a patient.

          District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant, who is an orthopedic surgeon, sexually abused a patient who had gone to him for an appointment. He inappropriately touched her and kissed her, and then told her to keep it a secret. His abuse of power and actions are inexcusable.”

          District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Dr. Woojin Cho, 48, of Hartsdale, NY, was sentenced today by Bronx Criminal Court Judge Audrey Stone after he was convicted of Forcible Touching, third-degree Sexual Abuse, and second-degree Harassment by a jury on May 25, 2022. The defendant was sentenced to nine months’ jail for Forcible Touching, 90 days’ jail for the Sexual Abuse charge, and 15 days’ jail for Harassment, to run concurrently. 

          According to the investigation, the patient, a 22-year-old woman who suffered a medical condition, went to an appointment on September 4, 2020 at the Montefiore Spine Center Hutchinson Campus located on 1250 Waters Place. Cho grabbed the victim’s chest area and kissed her in the neck and cheek. He also touched her private area under her clothes and put the victim’s hand on his private area. Cho saved his personal cellphone number on the victim’s phone and asked her to be his “sugar baby.” The victim told her mother about the incident and the police were called. Authorities conducted a controlled-call in which the defendant explained to the victim what a “sugar daddy” and “sugar baby” relationship was and admitted to touching her while saying it was part of her exam. He also told the victim to keep the incident a secret, and that if she kept quiet, she would receive “a lot.” Cho was arrested on September 15, 2020. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Insinga of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Baer, Supervisor in the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, under the supervision of Mimi Mairs, Chief of the Child Abuse/Sex Crimes Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Adrienne Giunta, Deputy Chief of Special Victims Division and Joseph Muroff, Chief of Special Victims Division. 

District Attorney Clark thanked Jeanette Gambaro, Advocate in the Crime Victims Assistance Unit.

District Attorney Clark also thanked now retired Detective Ivan Rodriguez, formerly of the Bronx Special Victims Squad, for his assistance in the investigation.