Dr Camilo Molina, a 40-year-old US neurosurgeon, has been jailed for two years at Glasgow Sheriff Court for sexually assaulting a woman in a Glasgow nightclub. Molina was found guilty on September 23 and sentenced on October 21 for the attack, which was described as "despicable" in court.
Assault at Kong nightclub
Molina approached a then-20-year-old woman from behind at the Kong nightclub on Royal Exchange Square on Saturday, April 5, 2025, and touched her under her skirt without consent. The court heard that Molina, an associate professor of neurosurgery and orthopaedic surgery at Washington University Hospital in St Louis, Missouri, was in Glasgow for a professional conference.
The 32nd International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques, held by the Scoliosis Research Society, was taking place in Glasgow at that time. Molina and some medical associates attended the conference before heading to the West End and later to the Kong nightclub, where the assault occurred.
Separation from university
WashU Medicine confirmed Molina's separation from the university earlier this month but did not specify when he left or whether he was fired or resigned. A spokesperson told StudentLife: "Dr. Molina is no longer employed by Washington University."
Molina's former biography on Washington University's website described him as a national leader in complex spine surgery, spinal tumours and spinal deformities. The page has since been removed. As deputy director of spine innovation for the Centre for Innovation in Neuroscience and Technology, he helped develop technology that allowed surgeons to view 3D visualizations of CT scans through a headset using augmented reality.
The headset was later named one of Time Magazine's best inventions of 2020. He also headed the Molina Lab at the campus, which worked to leverage technology to decrease surgical invasiveness.
Police response
Detective Inspector Holly Swindells said: "Molina sexually assaulted the woman, a complete stranger to him, in a busy bar in what can only be described as a despicable attack. He now faces the consequences of his actions."
"The woman showed great courage and strength by reporting what happened to her and throughout the legal process. I hope the outcome from court provides her with some form of justice."
"Police Scotland is committed to investigating all reports of sexual crimes, regardless of when they happened, and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of such to come forward and report it to us. We have specially trained officers and partner agencies who will support you throughout. We strive to get justice for victims and hold offenders to account."
