Volunteer at doctor’s office allegedly impersonated doctor, molested patient

HIBP Medical Services are located in this building at 6911 Richmond Highway.

An investigation into an incident at a local doctors office took a strange turn last week when sexual battery charges were dropped against one employee and another employee was arrested for the same crime.

Fabio Suarez Valderrama

Fabio Suarez Valderrama, 54, was arrested August 17 by the Fairfax County Police and charged with one count of misdemeanor sexual battery. Suarez Valderrama, who works at HIBP Medical Services at 6911 Richmond Highway, is accused of touching a patient inappropriately on June 23.

The police said in a press release that Suarez Valderrama is a volunteer but had been practicing medicine at the office without a license. Suarez Valderrama is a doctor in Colombia, according to the police, but is not licensed in Virginia.

Suarez Valderrama has not been charged with any crime related to that allegation, but a Fairfax Police spokeswoman said that charges could still be coming.

Charges against Fausto Fernandez have been dropped.

Originally a different employee at HIBP was charged in connection to the June 23 incident. Dr. Fausto Fernandez, 75, was arrested July 14 and charged with misdemeanor sexual battery. At the time, police said Fernandez had inappropriately touched a patient during an exam at HIBP. Charges against Fernandez have since been dropped.

A police spokeswoman would not comment as to why Fernandez was originally charged, but said that he is still under investigation.

Fernandez had no comment when reached at HIBP yesterday, other than to say that Suarez Valderrama was on administrative leave.

Fernandez told WJLA last week that he was “charged wrongly” in “a complete mix-up.”

In another twist to the case, Fairfax County General District Court information lists “Fausto Fernandez” as an alias for Suarez Valderrama. The police spokeswoman could not confirm if Suarez Valderrama was pretending to be Fernandez, but said that it was a possibility that was being investigated.