Md. doctor charged with sex crimes served time for Orange County rape

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A western Maryland physician convicted in 1987 of raping a Florida woman is making his first court appearance since he was charged with molesting a female patient earlier this year.

Fifty-nine-year-old Dr. William Dando of Rawlings is making his initial appearance in Allegany County Circuit Court in Cumberland.

Online court records show that Dando pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of fourth-degree sex offense and perverted practice in documents filed by defense attorney Steven Friend.

The family medicine specialist received a Maryland medical license in 1996 after serving 3 1/2 years in prison for raping a Florida woman at gunpoint.

The state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has asked its inspector general's office to investigate the state Board of Physicians' decision to grant Dando a license.

Dando was sentenced in Orange County, Florida, to 10 years in prison in August 1987 after pleading guilty to burglary and sexual battery, the equivalent of rape under Florida law. He was released in May 1991. He graduated in 1986 from Universidad de Ciencias Medicas in San Jose, Costa Rica. He completed a residency at University of Maryland School of Medicine in 1996.

WFTV