Child psychiatrist William Ayres, 75, former president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, is facing charges on 21 counts of lewd and lascivious behavior involving seven former patients, most of whom were between the ages of 9 and 12 years-old at the time of the alleged offenses.

William Ayres, 75, appeared briefly in San Mateo County Superior Court with his wife and lawyer at his side as a prosecutor added three additional counts involving two new alleged victims to the indictment.

Dozens of Ayres’ former patients, dating to the late 1960s, have come forward to accuse him of abusing them. However, in many cases the allegations fall outside the statute of limitations.

Ayres now faces 21 counts of lewd and lascivious behavior involving seven former patients. Five of the boys were between 9 and 12 when the alleged abuse took place.

Prosecutor Melissa McKowan wouldn’t discuss details of the two new victims. She told the defense lawyer she expected two more boys to soon be added.

McKowan said many more alleged victims, both within and outside the statute of limitations, are continuing to come forward. At last count, she said there were nearly 40.

While most guys, especially those that have participated in sports or served in the military, have at one time or another had a physician take their ‘family jewels’ in hand, at least briefly, is it normal to have this type of exam as part of psychiatric treatment?

You know, as in “Strip, lie down on the couch then turn your head and cough” type examinations when one is 9-years-old??

Read it at Child Doc Pleads Not Guilty To Molestation and wonder if rather than being examined you were molested…