Joohwan Ko Arrested in Salinas Chiropractor Sexual Assault Case

Salinas Police Say Chiropractor Joohwan Ko, Who Has Practiced in the Area Since 1999, May Have More Victims

SALINAS, CALIFORNIA (November 8, 2026) – A 57-year-old chiropractor identified as Joohwan Ko was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a patient during an appointment in Salinas.

Monterey County officials are saying that the arrest occurred on Wednesday, following an investigation into a patient’s report. Police have not said when the alleged assault took place or where Joohwan Ko’s appointment with the patient was held.

According to the Salinas Police Department, the patient reported being sexually assaulted by Ko during a chiropractic appointment. Detectives investigated the allegation and took Ko into custody.

Joohwan Ko was booked into the Monterey County Jail on suspicion of felony sexual penetration by force, with bail set at $200,000. Prosecutors had not announced formal charges as of the latest reports.

Ko has practiced chiropractic care in the area since 1999, and detectives are concerned there may be other victims who have not come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Ramirez at 831-758-7277, and anonymous tips can be left at 831-775-4222.

The state Board of Chiropractic Examiners publishes final disciplinary actions taken against licensees over the past five years, along with a public profile for each license. Under the Patient’s Right to Know Act, a chiropractor placed on probation must also give patients a separate written disclosure before their next visit.

With nearly three decades in practice, questions remain about whether any patient raised concerns about Ko earlier and how those concerns were handled. The answer may shape whether the board takes action on his license while the criminal case moves forward.

Liability for Salinas Chiropractor Sexual Assault

California law gives survivors of sexual misconduct by health care providers several paths to accountability. Under Civil Code section 1708.5, a person who intentionally makes harmful or offensive sexual contact with another without consent can be held civilly liable for sexual battery. The state has also expanded the time survivors have to act: under Code of Civil Procedure section 340.16, adults generally have up to 10 years from the last act of assault, or 3 years from discovering an injury caused by it, to file suit. Licensing boards can separately discipline a provider whose conduct with patients crosses professional boundaries. Responsibility may also extend beyond the individual provider, depending on several factors.

• Clinic Ownership: A practice or clinic that employs a provider can face claims for negligent hiring, supervision, or retention.
• Prior Complaints: Earlier reports from patients or staff can show that a risk was known and not addressed.
• Chaperone Policies: Whether a practice offered or required a chaperone during sensitive treatment can bear on its responsibility.
• Informed Consent: Providers must explain what a treatment involves, and touching that goes beyond what a patient agreed to is not consent.
• Treatment Records: Appointment logs, notes, and billing records can establish when a patient was seen and what was supposedly done.

The California Supreme Court drew an important line on these claims in Lisa M. v. Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital (1995). A 19-year-old pregnant patient was molested by an ultrasound technician who falsely told her that additional scanning was needed, after he refused to let her boyfriend into the room. The court held that the hospital was not automatically liable for the technician’s acts under the doctrine of respondeat superior, because the assault was a personal act that the job itself did not create. At the same time, the court left open the patient’s direct negligence claim against the hospital, recognizing that a health care facility still owes its patients a duty of care. That distinction often shapes whether survivors focus on how a practice screened, supervised, and responded to the people it put alone with patients.

Why So Many Sexual Assaults Go Unreported

Sexual assault is one of the least reported violent crimes in the country. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ Criminal Victimization, 2024 report, only 23.6 percent of rape or sexual assault victimizations were reported to police in 2024, down from 46 percent in 2023. When an assault happens in a medical setting, a patient may not immediately realize the contact was improper, or may doubt their own memory of it. Investigators often learn of additional survivors only after one person comes forward publicly. Patients can protect themselves and others by knowing what to expect during treatment.

• Clear Explanation: A provider should describe what each procedure involves, and why, before touching a patient.
• Ongoing Consent: Patients can ask questions, decline any part of a treatment, or stop an appointment at any time.
• Chaperones: Patients can ask for a chaperone or a trusted person to be present during an exam.
• Proper Draping: Gowns and draping should protect a patient’s privacy, and areas unrelated to treatment should not be exposed.
• Reporting Options: Concerns can be reported to police, to the state licensing board, or to both.

No patient should ever have to question whether a trusted provider crossed a line. Health care professionals hold real power in the treatment room, which is why licensing rules and professional standards exist to protect the people they treat. Survivors have the right to report at their own pace and to be believed when they come forward. They may also be entitled to compensation for counseling, medical care, lost income, and the lasting emotional harm that abuse can cause. Each report that reaches investigators can help protect future patients from the same harm.

Investigating Chiropractor Sexual Abuse in Salinas

We at Feher Law send our support and best wishes for healing to the patient who came forward in Salinas. We hope this case brings full accountability and leads to stronger protections for every patient who walks into a treatment room. These allegations raise serious safety concerns about how patients are protected during one-on-one care. Were there earlier warning signs that could have been caught by the people responsible for patient safety?

Have you or someone you love experienced sexual abuse during chiropractic or medical care in Salinas or elsewhere in Monterey County? Survivors may be entitled to compensation for counseling, medical care, and the disruption to their lives, and providers and practices can be held accountable for misconduct. Patient records, appointment logs, and licensing files are held by the practice and the state, and those records may not be easy to obtain on your own. Our team of safety advocates and accident investigators can help you understand your options, from treatment and scheduling records to prior complaints and licensing history. If you have questions about your rights or would like a free, independent investigation, we’re here for you anytime at (424) 433-4412.