Nephrologist Mohamad Moutaz Almawaldi, 56, of Lakeport recently appeared in court and was not in custody, pleading not guilty to a sexual battery charge.
The charge stems from his arrest in February after allegedly sexually assaulting a co-worker last year.
According to Lake County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Corey Paulich, a report was initially made on Aug. 9, 2017, to the LCSO that Almawaldi had committed the assault. A female victim, who worked in the doctor’s Lakeport office, reportedly told deputies Almawaldi forcefully kissed her and pulled down her shirt.
The District Attorney filed a complaint with the Lake County Superior Court, and the Court issued an arrest warrant for Almawaldi in November of last year.
The doctor was arrested and booked into the Lake County jail, with bail set at $20,000.
Almawaldi posted that amount and was later released.
The setting of the preliminary hearing has been scheduled for May 8 at 8:15 a.m. in Department Four.
The defendant is ordered to be present.
