A gynecologist was convicted Tuesday of federal sex crimes. He was allowed to return home to the dismay of many victims, who told him he should be punished immediately.
Robert Hadden, 64, from Englewood, New Jersey was convicted of the crime after less than one day of deliberations in a two-week trial. Nine former patients testified that Hadden had sexually abused them for years, when they were at their most vulnerable. April 25 was the date for sentencing.
Judge Richard M. Berman noted Hadden didn’t receive a sentence for his confession in state court seven years ago even after allegations he had molested patients for many years. A potential sentence of decades in prison could be imposed upon Hadden’s conviction in federal court for four counts of enticing victims across state lines in order to sexually abuse them.
Berman stated that people are puzzled by Hadden’s success in avoiding prison. “There is a feeling that he somehow skirts the process.”
Hadden, who was subject to electronic monitoring and was entitled to $1 million of free money, was allowed to leave the courthouse. Even though Berman refused requests from a prosecutor, 10 victims and Hadden to be immediately imprisoned, the judge scheduled a hearing next week in order to consider Hadden’s request for detention before sending him sentence.
Evelyn Yang is one of the women who agree with the judge’s view. Her husband Andrew Yang ran unsuccessfully for New York City mayor in 2022 and for president in 2020. She called the state sentence a “slap in the wrist,” stating that Hadden had sexually assaulted her seven years ago when she was seven-months pregnant. She was present at Tuesday’s verdict.
Yang stated, “This is such an important victory for all of you.” It’s also validating. So quickly did the jury return with their verdict. He was found guilty of all charges. This just leaves no doubt in my mind that he was a serial prey who deserved to be imprisoned.
Hadden worked in two prestigious Manhattan hospitals, Columbia University Irving Medical Center & New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He was fired after he suffered attacks that left him with permanent disabilities.
Already, the institutions have agreed to pay $236 million to settle civil claims brought by more than 200 former patients.
Jane Kim, Assistant U.S. attorney, argued that Hadden should immediately be jailed because he was a risk to fleeing and a danger for the community.
Deirdre Von Dinnum, his lawyer, countered, saying that he was not at risk of fleeing and had a perfect record while being held on bail. She also said that he was not a threat to the community. His lawyers did not contest the fact that he had molested patients during trial. They argued that his state court plea covered these crimes and that federal charges claiming patients from New Jersey and Nevada were sexually abused crossed state lines were inappropriate because he didn’t know where the victims came from.
Hadden was indicted for sexually abusing patients between 1993 and 2012, according to a criminal indictment.
