Bail for Lodi chiropractor accused of rape set at $1.5M

STOCKTON — A judge Monday set bail for a local chiropractor facing suspicion of three felony charges including rape by force or fear at $1.5 million and ordered him to return to court Thursday for further arraignment.

Minutes later outside the Stockton courtroom, a lawyer representing Adam Robert Spencer, 39, of Lodi, declared her client’s innocence.

“Dr. Spencer is adamant that he is innocent of all of the allegations against him. He has been a chiropractor in this community for 14 years and is as honest and straightforward as they come,” said defense attorney Melissa Dougherty. Dougherty was filling in for attorney Armando Villapudua who did not appear in court Monday.

During Spencer’s short appearance before Superior Court Judge Ron Northup, the defense asked for more time to enter a plea and review his bail. His next arraignment hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday in Department 8B.

It was also noted that Spencer signed a civil protection order preventing him from having any contact with the victim.

Spencer was arrested without incident by Stockton police at his Lodi home last Wednesday, according to police. Authorities allege he sexually assaulted a 51-year-old woman who was his patient in June at his chiropractic office at 2707 E. Fremont St.

Spencer, a 2003 graduate of Life Chiropractic College-West, has been licensed by the California Board of Chiropractic Examiners since 2004. Public records show no disciplinary actions. They also show he is licensed to work at three other chiropractic offices through June 30 of next year: 9008 Thornton Road in Stockton; 820 S. Fairmont Ave. in Lodi; and 750 Spaans Drive in Galt.

Spencer, who years ago was known as Adam Gay, is the son of Robert Gay and the late Peggy Spencer. In a high-profile homicide case, Robert Gay was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of his wife in 2005.