The Associated Press State & Local Wire

January 8, 2004, Thursday, BC cycle

Police charge psychiatrist for husband’s actions

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 217 words

DATELINE: TRUMBULL, Conn.

A psychiatrist has been arrested on charges of allegedly allowing her former husband to pose as a doctor.
Dr. Liane Leedom, 42, surrendered at police headquarters Wednesday after being told there was a warrant for her arrest.
“She allowed her husband to play doctor under her license and to dispense drugs under her license,” Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney John DeMattia said.
Leedom ran a psychiatric practice and the Noah’s Ark Foundation, a former state-licensed methadone clinic in the Merritt Medical Building on Main Street.
Police said in 2002, Leedom went on maternity leave, leaving her husband, Barry Lichtenthal in charge of the office.
Lichtenthal, 58, was arrested last April after several female patients claimed he had conducted bizarre sexual experiments on them. Police said Lichtenthal presented himself to patients as Dr. Michael Taylor, and examined them and prescribed drugs.
Numerous sexual assault and fraud charges are pending against Lichtenthal at Superior Court in Bridgeport.
Leedom subsequently filed for divorce from Lichtenthal and it was granted last September.
Leedom was charge with larceny and several counts of fraud. She was released after posting a $25,000 bond, pending arraignment Jan. 20 at Superior Court in Hartford.