Former Doctor Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse of Pediatric Patients
- Dignity 4Patients
- Sep 17
- 4 min read
By Matthew Toth- 17/09/2025- Lebanon Daily News- [Samuel Rashid]-[Lebanon]
After a three day-long trial before Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas Judge Charles Jones Jr., former Lebanon doctor Samuel Rashid was found guilty of sexual assault of pediatric patients between 1999 and 2001.
The jury took almost eight hours on Sept. 17 to find Rashid guilty of one count of unlawful contact of minor - indecent assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of children, one county of indecent assault of persons less than 13 years old and one count of corruption of minors. The jury also found Rashid not guilty of a second count of unlawful contact of a minor, two counts of aggravated indecent assault, a second count of indecent assault of persons less than 13 years old and a second count of corruption of minors.
After the verdict was read, Rashid was taken to the Lebanon County Correctional Facility after Jones set his bail to $100,000 Wednesday, Sept. 17. Samuel Stretton, Rashid's attorney, said that his client plans to post bail as early as Thursday, Sept. 18.
As he was escorted by the Lebanon County Sheriff's Officers from the courtroom, Rashid could be seen shouting "God is good" several times to those present at Wednesday's verdict. More than 20 family members and supporters watched as the former physician at Lebanon Valley Family Medicine was taken away, telling him that he was "getting out tomorrow" and shouting "there's no justice."
Senior Deputy District Attorney Amy Muller told Jones that Rashid could be sentenced 12 to 24 months in prison for the unlawful contact of minor - indecent assault verdict alone.
In March 2016, Rashid was sentenced by President Judge John C. Tylwalk to serve six months to two years on four misdemeanor counts of indecent assault followed by five years county probation for one count of corruption of a minor. The charges were filed in 2013 and 2014.
Rashid pleaded no contest Oct. 30, 2015, as jury selection was about to begin for his first trial. He surrendered his medical license in 2013.
A woman reported to North Londonderry Township Police on June 10, 2024 that Rashid's alleged abuse took place when she was between the ages of 4 and 8 years old at the Lebanon Valley Family Medicine offices. According to court records, Rashid was her primary care physician until she was in the third grade.
The victim testified before the jury Sept. 16 that Rashid would carry her "like a monkey" to his personal office, and give her candy after the alleged incident. The victim could be seen almost in tears as she recounted the details of the assault for the courtroom, adding that it happened more than one time.
"I know afterwards he said I was a pretty little girl," she testified, adding she did not tell anyone about the abuse until 2021.
Police were able to obtain a search warrant for Lebanon Valley Family Medicine, which showed the victim visited Rashid's office 11 times between January 1999 and May 2001.
Stretton asked several times for the victim to give times and details about the office. The victim repeatedly said that she did not know about details of exact dates or most of the placement of the office when the alleged abuse occurred.
"So it's fair to say you don't remember really anything except you believed he touched you inappropriately as you described to the jury?" Stretton asked the witness.
"I know he touched me," she responded.
On June 27, Police interviewed another victim who said Rashid allegedly abused her between 2000 and 2002. Police were able to obtain medical records showing she was evaluated by Rashid on June 2001. That victim testified before the jury on Monday, Sept. 15.
According to court documents, police said the woman reported similar instances of abuse at the same medical facility.
Rashid testified multiple times on Sept. 17 that he "never touched" the two victims, and did not even remember them visiting his office. Rashid said on an average day he would see 35 to 40 patients a day when he worked at Lebanon Valley Family Medicine, and would usually not have time to spend in his office.
"I don't have time, usually, to go to the bathroom, sir," he said when questioned by his attorney.
Rashid added that the parents of either victim did not make a complaint against him during the time of the incidents, and that he was not aware of their complaints until he was contacted by North Londonderry Township Police Department.
North Londonderry Township Police Detective Eric Cassel said Tuesday that he contacted Rashid for an interview in 2024 for an interview about the allegations.
"He thought the statute of limitations was over," Cassel testified Sept. 16. about Rashid's response.
On Sept. 17, Muller asked Rashid about medical records not indicating if a parent was in the room when he was examining the victims. Rashid responded by saying "it was obvious" a parent or guardian was in the room because prescriptions and shots were given to the patients.
"My position is if a shot's given, medicine given, (or) instruction given, a normal person will understand, very simple, that the parent was there," he said.
Rashid's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 19, though court officials said that hearing would likely be continued to another date.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article and were abused in state run medical and health facilities, you can contact Dignity4Patients, whose helpline is open Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm.
Dignity4Patients Commentary: Patients often attend a doctor’s clinic in a vulnerable state, placing trust in the authority and expertise of healthcare professionals. For children and other vulnerable individuals, this trust is especially significant- they reasonably expect that the practitioner will act in their best interests at all times. When this trust is breached, it not only causes individual harm but also damages patient confidence in the healthcare system.
