Yuma doctor accused of sexual harassment goes on trial

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Edsel Sandoval, the former Yuma doctor accused of sexually abusing his patients, will appear in court Tuesday for his final management conference.

Sandoval was arrested in February of this year following an investigation that began in July 2023 after three of Sandoval’s patients came forward and reported sexual abuse at the medical facility where Sandoval practiced.

Court documents show that the alleged harassment occurred in April 2022 and that the victims were women between the ages of 20 and 43.

Sandoval pleaded not guilty during his hearings in February and March.

However, in April, another eight of Sandoval’s former patients came forward and reported allegations of sexual abuse against him. According to the Yuma Police Department (YPD), the women’s ages range from 18 to 65 years old.

Additionally, recent court documents show that Sandoval faced 13 sexual abuse-related charges, but Sandoval faces 26 charges following the reporting of eight additional victims.