Celebrated US Scientist Convicted of Repeated Sexual Molestation of Child
Jim Kouri, CPP
July 20, 2006
The man hailed as the "father of gene therapy" was convicted of repeated sexual molestation of a colleague's daughter, beginning when she was 10 years old.
A jury convicted William Anderson, 69, of one count of repeated sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and three counts of committing a lewd act on a child.
Anderson's breakthrough medical treatment of injecting healthy genes into patients suffering from certain illnesses is said to have launched the field of gene therapy.
His lawyer pleaded with Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor to keep Anderson out of jail so he could continue working. But the judge wasn't persuaded by Anderson's scientific and medical achievements.
Judge Pastor sentenced Anderson, saying: "While Dr. Anderson is statutorily eligible for probation, he is clearly facing possible decades in prison."
Anderson faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison.
Co-prosecutor James Garrison replied to the argument that Anderson should not be imprisoned because of his research's benefits to society by saying, "We all acknowledge the contributions he has made in the past. But what's important now is the damage he did to the [child] victim."
Anderson was arrested for molesting the now 19-year-old girl from 1997 to 2001. Ironically, the sexual molestation began when the girl studied self-defense at his home in San Marino, California, according to the prosecutors.
A jury convicted William Anderson, 69, of one count of repeated sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14, and three counts of committing a lewd act on a child.
Anderson's breakthrough medical treatment of injecting healthy genes into patients suffering from certain illnesses is said to have launched the field of gene therapy.
His lawyer pleaded with Superior Court Judge Michael E. Pastor to keep Anderson out of jail so he could continue working. But the judge wasn't persuaded by Anderson's scientific and medical achievements.
Judge Pastor sentenced Anderson, saying: "While Dr. Anderson is statutorily eligible for probation, he is clearly facing possible decades in prison."
Anderson faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in prison.
Co-prosecutor James Garrison replied to the argument that Anderson should not be imprisoned because of his research's benefits to society by saying, "We all acknowledge the contributions he has made in the past. But what's important now is the damage he did to the [child] victim."
Anderson was arrested for molesting the now 19-year-old girl from 1997 to 2001. Ironically, the sexual molestation began when the girl studied self-defense at his home in San Marino, California, according to the prosecutors.
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