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Mammoth Lakes Doctor Terminated After S.B. Sex Crime Allegations

Written by C.J. Ward

Story Created: Jan 18, 2012 at 12:02 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jan 19, 2012 at 12:03 PM PDT

Santa Barbara - A Mammoth Lakes doctor accused of sex crimes against a 14-year-old Santa Barbara girl has been terminated from the hospital where he worked as a surgeon.

Dr. Andrew Bourne faces eight counts of illegal communication with a minor to facilitate sexual activity. Santa Barbara Police detectives arrested Bourne and Joe Walker, a Mammoth Lakes businessman, earlier this month on similar charges.

Authorities say both men are good friends, knew the girls family and the illegal contact lasted for about two years until the girls parents saw a suspicious email and called police.

Bourne and Walker posted $750,000 bail last week and were released from the Santa Barbara County Jail. Both men had been arrested and held on $1 million bail each.

Dr. Bourne, who also served on the Mammoth Unified School Board District, immediately turned in his resignation after returning home.

CEO Gary Boyd of Mammoth Hospital tells KEY News that Dr. Bourne was notified on Jan. 9 that his contract was terminated because he could not fulfill its terms due to the case. Boyd says he is waiting to see how the case unfolds and will make a decision about how to proceed from there.

Boyd says, "Bourne is innocent until proven guilty and he needs to concentrate on his case right now."

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office has indicated more charges could be filed against both men. Their next court hearing is set for Feb. 10 in Santa Barbara.
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