Palm Coast Doctor Pleads No Contest To Felony Charges

Posted
Dr. Florence Fruehan
(Flagler County Jail)

Palm Coast, FL - A former Flagler County doctor pleads no contest to one count of battery on a person 65 or older.

59-year-old Florence Fruehan made that plea earlier this afternoon (August 16th) on that third-degree felony charge. He was sentenced to 24 months probation and he's now required to undergo a mental health evaluation, have no contact with any victims and may never work in any capacity in the medical field again.

Fruehan's charges stem from past patients of his reporting to law enforcement that he had touched them inappropriately during visits and had touched them without consent without serving any legitimate medical purpose.

“Our detectives have done a great job working this case and working with the State Attorney’s Office to seek justice for the victims,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “I hope the victims see this as a positive outcome and find peace knowing that he will never practice medicine again.”

Fruehan was facing two counts of battery on a woman 65 or older along with a misdemeanor charge of battery.

The plea agreement drops the additional felony and misdemeanor charges. If the terms of his probation are successfully met, his probation may end at the halfway point, or after just 12 months.