Former Cumberland Hospital Director cleared of wrong-doing involving sexual acts with minors
A week-long trial that involved a former doctor of Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents in New Kent County has resulted in not guilty verdicts.
Daniel Davidow was found not guilty on two counts each of indecent acts with a child by a custodian and sexual penetration with an object stemming from alleged incidents in 2018 to 2019.
The trial revolved around allegations that Davidow had committed acts against minors at the troubled hospital. As the trial played out, the defendant testified that he did not recall any of the accused events. However, he resigned in 2019 after being notified he was being investigated by the Virginia State Police. The defendant said he never touched any of the private areas of his patients.
Meanwhile, New Kent Commonwealth’s Attorney Scott Renick argued that the defendant used his position to touch the victims inappropriately, saying that at least one of the victims had credible information that could convict Davidow of the crime. However, defense attorney Craig Cooley rebutted, pointing to a civil lawsuit that is worth nearly $400 million dollars that would favor the victims if the crime was committed. And while Renick countered that there was no civil case during the time when the accusers first notified authorities of the action, he said that witnesses for the defense were co-workers with Davidow.
After hearing the case over several days, Judge B. Elliott Bondurant pointed to the multiple interviews that took place over the six-year span since the incidents took place. Bondurant also pointed out that two nurses who were in the vicinity when Davidow conducted the exams never testified to anything inappropriately taking place.
That information along with the ever-changing stories during the interviews resulted in Bondurant rendering not guilty verdicts on all four charges lodged against Davidow. Davidow, along with the owners of Cumberland Hospital, are still involved in a civil lawsuit.