HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. — A former MRI technician who prosecutors said abused his position to exploit a teenage patient during a routine medical examination has been convicted of endangering the welfare of a child following a bench trial in Suffolk County.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Robbie Baguio, 37, of Wheatley Heights, was sentenced Thursday to a conditional discharge after being found guilty of Endangering the Welfare of a Child. At the time of the incident, Baguio worked as an MRI technician at the Bohemia office of Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group.
Prosecutors said the incident occurred on Oct. 1, 2023, when a 16-year-old girl arrived for a routine MRI after suffering a hamstring injury while playing soccer.
According to trial testimony, Baguio instructed the teenager to remove both her shorts and underwear before the examination without initially providing a covering. The victim questioned the instruction because she had previously undergone an MRI without being asked to do so, but prosecutors said Baguio reaffirmed the requirement before eventually providing a medical gown.
The gown tied only at the neck, leaving the back exposed unless it was manually held together.
During the examination, prosecutors said Baguio first instructed the victim to lie on her back while MRI images were taken. He then claimed additional images were needed and directed her to position herself on her hands and knees, lower herself onto her forearms, arch her back and raise her buttocks, exposing intimate areas while inside the MRI machine.
After the examination ended, Baguio handed the teenager a towel to cover herself. She immediately told her mother what had occurred, and police were contacted.
Expert testimony presented during the trial established the positions Baguio instructed the victim to assume were unnecessary for a routine MRI involving a hamstring injury. Witnesses also testified that images obtained while the victim was lying on her back were sufficient for diagnosis and that no MRI images were taken during the later portion of the examination.
What is happening
- Prosecutors said the victim was instructed to remove her shorts and underwear during a routine MRI for a hamstring injury.
- Expert testimony established the sexually suggestive positions were unnecessary for diagnosing the injury.
- The defendant waived a jury trial, was convicted by a judge, and received a conditional discharge.
“This defendant was convicted of endangering the welfare of a child for using his authority as a healthcare technician to prey on a young girl who was simply in need of a routine exam,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said. “I commend the brave young victim for coming forward and having the courage to confront the defendant’s actions in court. Anyone who has had a similar experience with this defendant should contact the Suffolk County Police Department or my office.”
Baguio was arrested on June 6, 2024, and waived his right to a jury trial. Following the bench trial before District Court Judge Eric Sachs, he was found guilty on June 11 of one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor under New York law.
The District Attorney’s Office said it sought the maximum split sentence of 60 days in jail, but the court imposed a conditional discharge at sentencing on Thursday.
FAQ
What was Robbie Baguio convicted of?
He was convicted of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor, following a bench trial.
Where did the incident occur?
The incident occurred at the Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group office in Bohemia, New York.
Why did prosecutors say the examination was improper?
Expert testimony established the positions the victim was instructed to assume were unnecessary for diagnosing her hamstring injury, and no MRI images were taken while she was in those positions.
What sentence did the defendant receive?
The court sentenced Baguio to a conditional discharge despite prosecutors seeking a jail sentence.
Sources: Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office press release; Suffolk County District Court trial proceedings.
Former MRI technician Robbie Baguio was convicted after prosecutors said he directed a 16-year-old patient into unnecessary sexually suggestive positions during a routine MRI examination in Bohemia.
