ASHEVILLE — New sexual assault allegations have emerged in the case of Asheville acupuncturist See Ying Kuai, who has previously been arrested three times for allegedly sexually assaulting patients.
Officers with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office arrested the 90-year-old acupuncturist on suspicion of sexual assault on Oct. 20, increasing his total charges to four counts of sexual assault and one count of second-degree forcible sexual conduct.
According to the arrest warrant, Quai allegedly engaged in “sexual contact” with the patient “for the purpose of sexual abuse” on Sept. 30, 2022. The warrant states that during an “acupuncture treatment,” he unbuttoned the patient’s blouse and caressed the side of her breast “against her will.”
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According to the warrant, Quay appeared in Magistrate Court with his recently hired attorney, Rick Foster. He was subsequently released from the Buncombe County Jail, according to an online jail database.
Following one patient coming forward with an allegation of sexual assault in August, several other alleged victims have reported being sexually abused by Quai to Asheville police. One of Quai’s patients recently told the Citizen-Times that she felt as if he was “roaming the room” when he made inappropriate advances on her while she was sitting on the acupuncture table.
According to Sissy Majebe, a licensed acupuncturist and former commissioner of the North Carolina Acupuncture Licensing Board who knew Quay professionally, Quay received her acupuncture license in 1995 and opened a clinic in her Arlington Street home soon after.
In North Carolina, acupuncturists must be certified by the National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, which includes an ethics exam, before they can be licensed. Quay has now been suspended indefinitely with immediate effect from NCCAOM, and “the national certifying body is conducting a thorough investigation of this matter through its Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee,” according to a statement from the certifying body.
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Quay is scheduled to appear in Buncombe County District Court on the new charges on Dec. 7. According to an online court database, his next court date is Nov. 7 in District Court for a hearing on two misdemeanor sexual assault charges.
On October 18, Foster asked District Court Judge Julie Kepple to continue Quay’s case “to the extent possible.” Quay’s trial date was set for January 9.
APD encourages potential victims to come forward and can do so by calling APD at 828-252-1110. To make an anonymous report, text TIP2APD to 847411.
APD partners with the Buncombe County Family Court Center to assist victims of sex crimes. The FJC can be contacted at 828-250-6900.
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If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted and needs help or resources, please contact:
Riley Ober is a public safety reporter for the Asheville Citizen-Times, a USA Today Network company. Email him at rober@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @ryleyober.
