A phony doctor who claimed he could cure AIDS and cancer with expensive, ineffective treatments was sentenced March 14 to six years and four months in custody after his victims’ survivors described what he had done.
Keith Allen Barton, 52, of La Mesa, was ordered to pay $50,107 to victims he defrauded by San Diego Superior Court Judge Amalia Meza, who fined him $13,013. Barton said nothing in court but shook his head occasionally.
Because the crimes were not considered violent, Barton will not serve his sentence in prison but will be incarcerated in county jail. The state legislature passed a measure to cut down overcrowding and costs in California’s 33 prisons.
Meza ordered that Barton be on mandatory supervision by the probation department for a year and four months if he is released after serving five years. She denied probation, saying he showed no remorse.
Meza said the patients treated by Barton were “especially vulnerable and desperate to find a miracle.” She said he showed “great insensitivity” to the victims, several of whom died and said the public needs to be protected.
Rebecca Hyde testified her sister Cindy went to Barton who persuaded her to have all her teeth pulled in a Tijuana clinic to cure an infection from fibromyalgia and depression. She paid him $20,000, and when she didn’t get better, “she took her own life,” said Hyde.
“He doesn’t get it what he’s done to people. He’s destroyed families,” said Hyde. “He brainwashed my sister (into thinking) that no conventional doctor could help her.”
A woman only identified as Lisa told the judge she paid $18,000 to Barton for a cure for AIDS for her 9-year-old daughter who is now deceased. “She trusted you, Keith. We thought you were helping us.”
The girl’s young brother told Meza “I’m very sad my sister had to pass” before he began crying and sat down.
“I hope prison can give you time to reflect,” said Lisa.
During the trial, Lisa testified she asked Barton for a refund as her daughter was in intensive care in a hospital and never got to use the remedy he sold her. She said Barton shouted at her angrily over the phone when he refused to give her money back.
A jury, which deliberated only four hours, also convicted Barton Jan. 10 of three counts of grand theft and attempted grand theft, and false personation of a Berkeley physician who has the same name as Barton. The defendant used the medical license of the other doctor with his same name to start an alternative medical practice that advertised on the Internet.
Deputy District Attorney Gina Darvas sought a prison term of seven years and eight months, saying “he’s ruined too many lives.” Darvas called him “a dangerous man who took advantage of desperate people.”
Douglas Light told the judge he went with his wife and Barton to Mexico where she had her teeth removed by a Tijuana dentist after Barton claimed she could be healed of an infection with that treatment. Light said he invested $40,000 in ineffective treatments and expenses with Barton.
Barton’s attorney, Patrick McCoy, asked for probation, saying he had no prior record and “has no intention of participating in the healing arts again.” Meza gave him 151 days jail credit.
