Dr. Jon Van Cleave, an osteopathic physician practicing in Wailua, has been accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile male who was in his care in 2002. He was arrested Wednesday on third-degree, sexual-assault charges, according to Cyndi Mei Ozaki, county
Dr. Jon Van Cleave, an osteopathic physician practicing in Wailua, has been accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile male who was in his care in 2002.
He was arrested Wednesday on third-degree, sexual-assault charges, according to Cyndi Mei Ozaki, county public information officer.
Following the filing of a complaint by the boy’s parents, Van Cleave turned himself in to Kaua‘i Police Department authorities, Ozaki said.
Van Cleave, 55, of Koloa, did not return calls made to his Wailua office Thursday and Friday. His home telephone is unlisted.
He posted bail, and is free while a police investigation continues, Ozaki said.
Van Cleave is also the subject of civil lawsuits filed in Fifth Circuit Court on Kaua‘i and on O‘ahu this month, where the parents of the now-15-year-old youth claim Van Cleave provided “useless and unnecessary medical treatment” so he could see their son.
The mother of the child said she brought the youth to Van Cleave’s office for treatment on Feb. 1, 2002, according to the lawsuit filed by Princeville attorney Robert O. Kratovil, who represents the plaintiffs.
As was his custom, Van Cleave put the mother behind a screen in his office so that she could not see what treatment her son underwent, the lawsuit said.
After the treatment ended, the mother noticed the boy was upset and had run from the doctor’s office, the lawsuit said.
The son later told his mother that he had been sexually assaulted, according to the Kaua‘i lawsuit.
The Kaua‘i lawsuit also contends Van Cleave gave many gifts to the youth, who began treatment with him in August, 2001 for chronic fatigue. The boy was 13 at that time.
During treatment over the next five months, Van Cleave insisted on buying expensive gifts for the youth, the lawsuit contends.
Van Cleave allegedly bought the youth an expensive gold necklace, opened a savings account for the youth, deposited $10,000 into it, and paid for the son to attend a private school, according to the suit.
When the youth asked why Van Cleave was offering to help him with school, Van Cleave told him that he had provided scholarships for other children at the same school, the lawsuit said. The school was not identified in court documents.
The lawsuit further claims Van Cleave asked the youth what he wanted for Christmas, and asked him to make a list, later buying gifts he wanted.
The lawsuit claims the plaintiffs suffered emotional and economic harm as a result of Van Cleave’s treatment of their child.
The plaintiffs are asking for unspecified general damages, special and consequential damages, and punitive damages.
Osteopathy is a school of medicine and surgery involving diagnosis and treatment, and puts emphasis on the relationship of muscles to the skeletal system.
Staff Writer Lester Chang may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net.
