49 l? TE - Saturday, May 1 B, 2002

Edition: MARTIN-ST. LUCIE

Section: LOCAL

Page: 1B

Source: By Joe Brogan Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Illustration: PHOTO {B?le

Memo: Ran all editions.

Dateline: NORTH PALM BEACH

DOCTOR TO FIGHT SEXUAL BATTERY CHARGE, LAWYER SAYS

Ignacio Magana's attorney also blasts alleged leaks by police to the news media.

The attorney for Jupiter neurosurgeon Ignacio Magana said Friday his client will ?ght a sexual battery charge, and he criticized what he called "leaked" information by Port
St. Lucie police.

Magana. 46. who is married and has three children. is accused ofthe January rape ofa 28-year?old female patient in his medical of?ce in Port St. Lucie.

"Usually during ongoing police investigations. they don't release information." attorney Ed O'Hara said. "In this case. information is being intentionally leaked to the press."

O'Hara also cited a Port St. Lucie police news conference in which an of?cer called for other potential victims to come forward.

"It makes good stuff for the media. but it has a negative effect on his ability to practice medicine." O'Hara said. "Some are alleging improper sexual conduct. but what does
that mean?"

He referred to additional cases being investigated by Port St. Lucie. 'v'ero Beach and Palm Beach Gardens police. in which alleged victims claimed sexual misconduct by
Magana.

Port St. Lucie police spokesman Chuck Johnson on Friday said the news media got theirfacts from public records.

"Nobody's leaking anything." Johnson said. "But we have such a large number ofvictims and police departments involved."

It was not unusual for police at a news conference the day after Magana's May El arrest to ask for additional victims to come forward. he said.

"There is a lot more to that investigation that we will not release because it's an ongoing investigation." he said.

Regarding the disclosure that there were additional cases being investigated. Johnson said, won't lie. If a reporter asks if there are additional cases. lwill tell him."

O'Hara said Magana is having a dif?cult time emotionally. but knows he has to confront the allegations.

Magana has resigned as chief of staff at Palm Beach IGardens Medical Center and has agreed to have a nurse present when treating female patients. but is still practicing
medicine and performng surgery. O'Hara said.

"He's not going to hide in a hole," O'Hara said. 'We can defend criminal charges but we can't defend against innuendoes."

joe_brog an@pbpost.com