By PAUL YOUNG
A former Temecula dentist who sexually assaulted two girls he was coaching in acrobatics was sentenced today to two years in prison -
- a term his victims said was not long enough to ensure he wouldn’t be able to prey on other children.
(Credit: Daniel Lane)
Dr. David Martinus Reiakvam, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of lewd acts on a child just as jury selection began for his trial. He could have faced more than 50 years behind bars had he been convicted of the 15 felonies with which he was originally charged.
Riverside County Superior Court Judge Ronald Taylor repeatedly reminded courtroom observers today that the sentence was the result of a “negotiated plea” and he would not override it.
In exchange for Reiakvam’s accepting responsibility for the two felonies, the District Attorney’s Office dropped 11 counts of committing lewd acts on a child under 15 years old, as well as two counts of oral copulation of a child under 18 against him.
“You took impressionable children’s dreams and used them instead for your sick, perverted pleasure,” said Amy Angome, who was sexually molested by the defendant beginning when she was 13 years old.
“It’s not the predator in the bushes you need to worry about. It’s those in positions of power and authority, like David, who harm precious and vulnerable children.”
The second victim, Shenea Booth, read a statement to the court recalling how Reiakvam repeatedly molested her, allegedly raping her at 13 as his then-wife Sherry and toddler son slept in adjacent rooms.
“Do you remember my blood on your T-shirt?” Booth asked, looking directly at Reiakvam, who stared straight ahead.
“Do you remember abusing me in the shower, or in your dental office? Do you remember what you did to me in front of your son while he was strapped into a car seat?”
Angome and Booth told City News Service they were among dozens of children, primarily girls, coached in acrobatics at Reiakvam’s Empire Acro Gym on Market Street in Riverside. It has since closed.
The women — Angome is now 27 and Booth 26 — were invited to live with the Reiakvams to maintain an uninterrupted schedule of training and academics, they told City News Service. Booth, who went on to win two world championship titles in acrobatics, left after one year.
Angome stayed until she was 19.
“I guess you could say it was like Stockholm syndrome,” Angome said, referring to the psychological phenomenon in which hostages bond with their captors. “David was very good at manipulation. The mental thing was more damaging than the physical abuse in a lot of ways.”
Both victims said Reiakvam excelled at portraying himself as a family man and trustworthy member of the community, while all along looking for a new target.
According to Angome, Reiakvam came under investigation after he allegedly tried to contact a 13-year-old girl on his son’s Facebook page.
The women believe many more victims have not come forward.
“I hope they do,” Angome said. “That means more charges can be filed, and he can get a long prison sentence.”
Booth said Reiakvam’s two-year prison term was not “anywhere long enough.”
“David should not be in society,” Booth said. “Someone of his violent caliber should be locked away. He’s a danger to himself and others.”
According to District Attorney’s Office Public Information Officer John Hall, defense attorney Tera Harden broached the plea deal this week after the case had been assigned to Taylor’s courtroom for trial, leading to negotiations and mutually acceptable terms.
“Several things were considered in the decision to accept the plea agreement,” Hall said. “By agreeing to this, the victims would not have to testify during a trial and, with the felony conviction and lifetime registration as a sex offender, Mr. Reiakvam will likely no longer be able to practice dentistry.”
Reiakvam, who began his dental practice in 1998, failed to renew his license earlier this year. The Dental Board of California had placed restrictions on his practice in January 2011, prohibiting him from accepting patients under 18 years old pending resolution of the criminal charges.
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Wow! I can’t believe the lies! First of all, the gym did not belong to Reiakvam and it has NOT closed! I know all parties involved and am disgusted… These two girls have ruined a man’s life – but not solely! The fb allegation is a lie! It is interesting to me that one of the girls told many people when he was arrested that she couldn’t believe it and if there was anything she could do to help – she would! Remember there are always two sides to every story! My child has attended that gym and we know many kids that have been coached by him and would stand behind him that he was never inappropriate with them!
As a former athlete and team member of the victims. David used to own Empire. He was forced to sell the business after the knowledge of his first affair with one of the athletes came out. The current owners are the same people that bought the business from him. I know for a fact that the allegations are true. He admitted to the abuse while talking to one of the victims on a police taped phone line.
* Correction: Shenea Booth was in fact 15 years of age when the crimes were committed against her.
Sad upsetting that such professional work would involve such selfish and incompetent behaviors
condolences and prayers
Wow this man should be in prison for life he violated his ethic roll as a coach as a dentist as a father as a husband. To sit there and say he didnt do it then he wouldnt of got convicted of any crime. Wake up this man is a menace to our society and there is no telling how many other children he has violated. So know the truth get ur head out of his ass and realize this man rapes children and enjoys it!
Wow this man should be in prison for life he violated innocent children and violated his ethics of a coach and a dentist a father and a husband. If he didnt do it then he wouldnt of have taken a plea and convicted of a crime. Wake up know the truth get ur head out of his ass and realize this man is a rapist and took these children innocence away and not by their choice. And the only rebuttal you can come up with is the FB page is not true really! I hope more victims come forward so he can be put in jail forever and let him try to survive in prison once they find out he raped children. Pervert!!
STOP DEFENDING A FREAKING PREDATOR
@know the truth
Wow, really????? You are a sick person to keep your children going to that place after learning of the charges brought against this vermin. OH, and FYI CLUELESS
CO-PERPETRATOR of SEXUAL ABUSE LADY- You must be totally mentally insane to say the ignorant, repulsive and utterly frightening statements- defending this letch. If CPS should be called on anyone for child abuse-let it be you!! Get a clue!!! Are you really that freaking naive, to believe this “innocent little lambchop dentist’s” life was ruined by two “little liars that have destroyed this kind man????”
NO, he is a rapist and a true predator, using his position of authority to intimidate and continously prey on new victims. All the while- painting the picture of the “wonderful family man”. PULL your stupid ass head out!!! If your children came to you, and told you he did this to them, you probably wouldn’t believe them, because of your precious ego. (BY the way, you should ask your kids if anything happened. Judging by your disbelief and automatic discrediting of innocent children, your kids would be none too eager to disclose any abuse. ) Check yourself. Someone should call the cops on you, for the obvious child endangerment. The fact you are allowing your children to attend the (camps/business) and cavorting with a sex offender. This idiot ass rich dentist lawyered up, bought his way out of a lifetime prison sentence and sadly we have a judicial system where the rich just “pay a fine, don’t do the time”, for any crimes they commit, regardless of the risk they impose to society.This creep will probably not even go to prison- )(realignment in county jail), and be out in 6 months tops. Just to “work” in his chosen profession as a pervert pediatric dentist elsewhere. All the while hundreds of new victims will suffer the consequences of our sick criminal justice system.
When people are doing 25-life without the possibility of parole for weed charges in the “war on drugs”, and freaking disgusting child predators who rape and victimize, ruining the psyche of innocence in our prescious children in society. Everyone should be protesting this “plea bargain with the devil”. THIS IS A SOCIETAL OUTRAGE!!!! And when sexual abuse and rape victims come forward they should all be believed. This is such a tragedy for these victims and a menace to society to think this man will be right back at it again in only a matter of months. Hopefully the jail/prison system ethics against rapists/child predators will see it fit that this punk never sees the light of day again.