Plastic Surgeon Arrested on Suspicion of Secretly Taping Female Patients Undressed

A plastic surgeon was arrested Thursday in connection with charges that he secretly videotaped female patients while undressed during post-operative examinations at his Beverly Center-area office.

Dr. Lance Everett Wyatt, 42, of Sherman Oaks, was taken into custody at about noon based on a $50,000 arrest warrant issued after charges were filed Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors allege that Wyatt used a concealed camera to film two women and touched one of the two patients during a post-operative exam. He was charged with four misdemeanor counts of surreptitious filming and one misdemeanor count each of battery and sexual battery.

Almost a year ago, on Aug. 4, 2011, one of the patients discovered she was being recorded, ran from the office with the camera and turned it over to police, according to the City Attorney's Office.

"Patients deserve to feel safe and secure while in the care of their physician," City Attorney Carmen Trutanich said. "Our charges allege that Dr. Wyatt violated that sacred trust and he should be held accountable."

If convicted on all counts, Wyatt faces a maximum sentence of two years in county jail and lifetime registration as a sex offender.

No arraignment date has been set.