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A Florida woman interning at a mental health and addiction center was fired and now faces a possible five years in prison after allegedly having a sexual relationship with a patient.
According to arrest documents obtained by NBC Miami, Michelle Luchau-Rebora, 32, allegedly fabricated excuses for the patient to leave the center to allow them to have sex at her mother’s house and, rather disturbingly, at a local hospital.
As explained in the documents, Luchau-Rebora "facilitated alibis on his behalf, which allowed him authorization to leave the restricted facility and engage in sexual intercourse on multiple occasions."
The intern eventually fessed up about her relationship to her bosses after the 42-year-old male patient reported her after she ended their three-month fling.
Luchau-Rebora must have been furious as, according to court documents, the intern "demanded that he not tell anyone about their relationship because it will affect her ability to work as a therapist."
The relationship began last June and reportedly ended in the fall after the pair met at the New Hope C.O.R.P.S. addiction treatment center in Homestead.
Although it is unclear how much time the pair spent together, it is alleged that the former couple had sex during unsupervised therapy sessions.
Over a year later, Luchau-Rebora appeared in court on Wednesday, September 2, wearing a green anti-suicide smock. The young woman was hit with a charge of sexual misconduct by a psychotherapist, a third-degree felony that could result in a five-year prison sentence.
The former intern posted a $5,000 bond after she was charged on Wednesday and was released pending trial.
Stephen Alvarez, the New Hope C.O.R.P.S. executive director, told WPLG: "Upon becoming aware of the allegations, New Hope promptly reported the matter to the appropriate authorities and agencies, terminated the individual’s internship, and fully cooperated with the subsequent investigation."
Speaking to reporters hassling her outside the courthouse, Luchau-Rebora said: "I’m not going to comment on anything. You can ask my lawyer," before telling them to leave her alone.
She added: "This is kinda weird.
"I really don’t wanna add anything right now."
