SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — A local cardiologist on Pleasure Island appeared in court again Thursday after being handed more sex crimes charges with a minor.
READ MORE: Local cardiologist, nonprofit founder arrested for sex crimes with a minor
ALSO: CB cardiologist facing sex crimes with 10-year-old appears in court
Damian Brezinski, owner of Island Cardiology in Carolina Beach, was charged with first-degree sex offense and indecent liberties with a child last week. The incident in question took place mid-April with a 10-year-old, according to court documents.
Kure Beach and Carolina Beach police departments executed warrants at Brezinski’s home and business. He was arrested Friday, May 3, and given a $1.5 million bond before making his first appearance in court on Monday this week.
Thursday, the police departments brought nine more counts against him:
- Rape of a child by adult offender
- Four counts of indecent liberties with a child
- Solicitation of child by computer
- Three counts of statutory sex offense with a child
Brezinski appeared in court Thursday and asked for his lawyer, James Rutherford, during his first appearance for the new counts. The lawyer wasn’t in the courtroom and Judge Sandra Ray was clear his presence wasn’t required for a first hearing on the nine charges.
The district attorney’s office requested Brezinski have $100,000 added to the $1.5 million until the official bond hearing, set for Monday, May 13.
“I don’t agree with that,” Ray countered, “because of the nature of these charges.”
She set it to $5 million and told Brezinski he cannot be in contact with the prosecuting witness.
Ray added the physician faces life without parole on four counts and up to 49 months for soliciting a child by a computer. Investigators in the case seized multiple computers, as well as cellphones, cameras, flash drives, memory cards, DVDs, and more, according to search warrants. They also searched multiple cars, a golf cart, ATV, and two storage units.
Documents show police were informed May 3 of the alleged assault in Kure Beach. The New Hanover County Department of Social Services turned over information, and according to interviews conducted by police, the family of the victim said Brezinski admitted to the crimes and noted video from an in-home camera caught one of the incidents.
The victim said the assaults were frequent and began around four years ago. Family indicated Brezinski also admitted his conduct was “probably inappropriate.”
It’s not the first time the doctor has faced charges. He was involved in a healthcare fraud civil suit with Wilmington Health Associates, where he formerly worked, before opening his private practice in 2016. In 2019, $244,000 was paid to settle civil claims under the False Claims Act due to improper payments made under the Medicare and Tricare programs.
The suit claimed from “2010 to 2014, Brezinski repeatedly inserted arterial stents for patients whose medical records did not demonstrate a need for the procedures.”
New Hanover Regional Medical Center also had to pay out $900,000 in facility fees received for the surgeries; the suit was opened after NHRMC conducted an internal audit.
Brezinski has been a public figure for years, founding two nonprofits, Chords for a Cause and Keep The Beat Alive. Both funded various outreach programs, including providing heart care services to people in the music industry.
If Brezinksi were to make bail, he would be required to go under electronic house arrest and surrender his passport.
The physician also has been mandated to have no contact with any minor children. He was required to turn in a DNA sample under state statue 15A‑266.3A.
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