Jurors clear doctor of one sexual charge

FORT PIERCE - A neurosurgeon accused by 10 women across three counties of various sexual offenses has been cleared by a jury of the most serious: that he raped a 27-year-old patient during a medical examination.

Dr. Ignacio A. Magana, the former chief of staff at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, was acquitted Friday by a three-woman, three-man jury.

Magana still faces a possible year in jail after a Martin County jury last year convicted him on a misdemeanor battery charge in a case in which a patient testified that he tried to kiss and rub against her. He is appealing that sentence.

And he was sentenced by a Palm Beach County judge last year to 15 years probation after pleading "guilty in his best interest" to misdemeanor battery and felony charges of aggravated assault in five of the cases.

Assistant State Attorney Kathy Nelson declined to comment Friday, the Palm Beach Post reported, other than to say the state plans to pursue another trial on a charge of attempted sexual battery.

That charge involves a patient in Port St. Lucie who says Magana tried to kiss her and put her hand on his genitals.

A trial date has not been set.

Magana has maintained innocence from the beginning but has given up his medical license.

[Last modified June 12, 2005, 00:38:17]