No-contest plea wraps up prosecution of former doctor

A former Fayette County physician has pled no contest to inappropriately touching a woman during her yearly exam.

The plea from Dr. Orlando Cano wraps up the final criminal charge against him. A trial on that charge resulted in a mistrial in July after defense attorneys questioned other accusers about their medical history; law requires separate hearings to be conducted to protect each witnesses’ rights if their medical records are to be admitted in open court.

Cano, who operated Monarch OB-GYN in Fayetteville and Henry County, was convicted by a jury in September for two counts of sexual battery against two former employees. He was sentenced to 12 months in jail, another 12 months of probation, a $10,000 fine and he is restricted from practicing medicine again.

When State Court Judge Fletcher Sams handed down that sentence, he noted that he didn’t notice any remorse from Cano, and that the evidence “showed revenge and retaliation” against witnesses.

Fayette County Solicitor-General Steve Harris noted that over 35 former patients were contacted who asserted that Cano fondled, groped or sexually abused them. Another 12 former employees and nurses from area hospitals also alleged sexually abusive and harassing treatment from Cano, Harris noted.

— John Munford