A former Sedona chiropractor, Douglas Gilbert, 64, was convicted by a jury Dec. 8, for sexual conduct with a minor and involving a minor in a drug offense in 2016.
His wife, Kimberly A. Korba, 45, previously pleaded guilty to child abuse with sexual motivation in December 2018 and is currently serving a term of probation.
Gilbert, aka “Dr. Doug,” and Korba, both Sedona residents, operated a chiropractic office in the Village of Oak Creek that specialized in what Gilbert branded as “Emotional Baggage Transformation.” The couple claimed to treat patients for “emotional clearing” using muscle testing as part of the physiology of emotion.
According to evidence presented at trial, Gilbert was asked during the course of his practice to help the 17-year-old daughter of a former patient with apparent emotional struggles.
The couple began socializing with the teen, which included visits to the doctor’s home. Gilbert would allegedly offer the teen mushrooms, which contain psychedelic compounds, mixed into tea as part of the therapy or a healing tool.
Gilbert allegedly eventually suggested the teen needed treatment to heal her “sexual energy” and the couple allegedly wanted to give her a “loving sexual experience.”
On Nov. 17, 2016, Gilbert and Korba took the child camping along a remote stretch of Oak Creek near the Cliffhanger OHV trail area. At that location, Gilbert and his wife encouraged the child to ingest illicit psilocybin mushrooms and alcohol and engage in sex with them.
The victim initially refused and reportedly became scared and began to consume alcohol, marijuana and mushrooms provided by the couple, who eventually allegedly engaged the teen victim in various sex acts. The victim alleged Korba also encouraged and participated in the sexual activity.
During 2017, detectives continued the investigation into the activities of Gilbert and Korba, including additional interviews regarding the circumstances. Gilbert and Korba were arrested Jan. 31, 2017, in the Village of Oak Creek. Both were booked into the Yavapai County Detention Center in Camp Verde, for sexual conduct with a minor and released on $125,000 bonds.
In addition to finding Gilbert guilty, the jury found five aggravating circumstances surrounding the commission of the crimes.
Gilbert was taken into custody after the verdicts and will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Debra Rene Phelan on Monday, Jan. 10, at 3 p.m.
Gilbert faces up to 12.5 years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender following his release from prison.
