South Bay doctor faces new sex assault allegation
SUNNYVALE — A Mountain View doctor is facing a new sexual assault accusation, coming from a woman who came forward following news of his initial arrest over the summer on allegations that he befriended then forced himself on a woman he also once treated.
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety announced Tuesday that 50-year-old Todd Yao was arrested again Friday. A police news release and court records indicate that Yao has been charged with felony sexual battery in the most recent case.
According to Sunnyvale police, after Yao’s July 8 arrest surfaced publicly, a woman in her mid-50s reported to police that she befriended Yao in August 2020 after he offered to treat an unspecified medical condition, and that eventually he made several unwanted sexual advances toward her.
The woman was initially reluctant to report Yao because of his stature as a doctor, but changed her mind out of concern for other women who may have experienced similar treatment from Yao, police said.
That account largely aligns with the first person to report Yao to police, a woman who said she met the doctor at a Sutter Health urgent-care clinic where he worked and that they eventually became friends. But the friendship was also marked with unwanted advances, including one in which she alleged Yao “forced himself” on her, “straddling her and forcibly kissing her on the lips.”
The first reported victim also said she held off on alerting police about Yao because of his doctor status, but came forward to protect other women.
Sunnyvale investigators continue to explore the possibility of more victims, and ask that anyone with information about misconduct by Yao contact Detective Mary Cayori at 408-730-7122.