B.C. acupuncturist who sexually assaulted his patients gets 2 years community time

WARNING: This story may affect those who have experienced​ ​​​sexual violence or know someone affected by it. 

A Surrey, B.C., acupuncturist who sexually assaulted two of his patients has been handed a jail sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community and three years of probation. 

Mario Ibarra, 62, was sentenced Thursday in Surrey provincial court after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual assault in November 2024. 

The women he assaulted say they're relieved to put this dark chapter behind them but are also critical of the regulator of B.C. acupuncturists for not warning the public about their abuser, who continued to practise years after the assaults.

His victims, who were in their 30s during the assaults, delivered emotional impact statements mere feet away from Ibarra, who did not make eye contact with them. They can only be identified as MN and LC due to a court-ordered publication ban. 

"His actions have left me struggling to rebuild my life," said MN.

"I was left feeling powerless, shameful and betrayed. Mr. Ibarra exploited his position to satisfy his own personal desires. This is disgusting and inexcusable. I am unable to put into words how much these events have impacted my life."

Ibarra will have to serve his community sentence in custody if he breaches any of his conditions, Judge Jay Solomon warned him. Three years is the maximum probation period that a Canadian judge can impose.

"The offences here are extremely serious. The behaviour verges on the outrageous," Solomon said.

"The message must get out, if it's not already out there, that this behaviour just will not be tolerated."

LC and MN say dealing with the regulator for acupuncturists was one of the most frustrating parts of their ordeal. They sent the regulator multiple emails asking for updates on their cases and what the college was going to do to alert the public about Ibarra.

"I'm very concerned for the safety of his other clients," LC wrote in an email to the college viewed by CBC News. It took three months to get a substantial response.

Women were vulnerable

The women met Ibarra about a decade ago during vulnerable moments in their lives. MN was recovering from a car accident, while LC was suffering from a severe depression that left her unable to work.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Ibarra's acts against his victims during treatments included penetrating MN with his fingers and lying on top of LC while gyrating his hips.

In her victim impact statement, LC said she remains distrustful of all male health-care practitioners. 

She says she feels "physically ill" whenever she sees men that look like Ibarra.

"They are strong visual reminders of … the disgust I feel toward him," she said.

MN and LC were accompanied by friends and family during sentencing. Ibarra came with his wife, who he's been married to since 1992. She says she still loves him despite what happened, Ibarra's lawyer told the court. 

Strict conditions

Ibarra didn't address the court himself, but his lawyer said his client "deeply regrets his actions" and "feels a great deal of shame."

Ibarra, who has worked in acupuncture for over two decades, won't be able to perform any complementary health service where he would be touching people for five years, Judge Solomon ruled. That also includes any unpaid work.

He will be on 24-hour house arrest for the first six months of his sentence. He must be within 10 metres of his home at all times, with exceptions for things like getting groceries. He'll then have a curfew from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for the rest of his sentence.

He will also be on a sex offender registry for 20 years.

Ibarra was regulated by the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of British Columbia, which merged into the College of Complementary Health Professionals of B.C. (CCHPBC) in June 2024. The regulator now also oversees professions like chiropractors and registered massage therapists.

No public notices

LC and MN are slamming the college for not notifying the public about Ibarra, saying the lack of action could have put other women in danger. The college hasn't made any announcements on its website about its investigation into Ibarra, his arrest, charges or guilty pleas.

It began investigating Ibarra in 2022, but in a June 2023 email obtained by CBC News, the college said it decided to suspend its investigation until the criminal law proceeding was over.

In exchange, Ibarra agreed to sign a consent undertaking that imposed several conditions on him, including that he not treat female patients, the email said.

 "A public notice should have been made, saying he has these conditions. They didn't have to say why," MN said in an interview with CBC News.

The college did not directly answer questions from CBC about why it didn't alert people. It said Ibarra hasn't been registered with the college since March 2024.

It said now that Ibarra has been sentenced, the college's investigation will be "remitted to CCHPBC's Inquiry Committee for consideration."

LC and MN hope Ibarra's actions will now be widely known. 

"I just want the public to be protected," MN said.

If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database.