Features

Stanford psychologist 

sentenced to 90 days 

PALO ALTO — A former Stanford University psychologist was sentenced to 90 days in jail Thursday and ordered to register as a sex offender after pleading guilty to having sex with two of his female patients. 

Ian Edward Wickram, 63, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of felony sexual exploitation of a patient. He admitted to having sex with two of his patients between April 2000 and February 2002. 

“Dr. Wickram seized on their vulnerabilities and exploited them for his own sexual gratification,” prosecutor Jeff Rosen said. “He did tremendous damage to these two women.” 

One of Wickram's victims spoke in court today. Her voice broke several times as she asked Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Douglas Southard to give Wickram the maximum possible sentence for the physical and emotional damage he had caused her. 

Wickram's 90-day jail sentence came as a result of a plea bargain. After hearing the victim's testimony and testimony from the victim's boyfriend about the impact of Wickram's actions he voiced concerns about the possible leniency of the plea bargain. 

First S.F. black woman sworn in 

as Superior Court judge 

SAN FRANCISCO — Former prosecutor Teri Jackson is expected to be sworn in as a judge of San Francisco Superior Court on Thursday. 

Jackson is the first black woman ever appointed to the bench of the city’s Superior Court. 

She grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and served as a prosecutor for 17 years, first in San Mateo and later in San Francisco, before joining the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. 

At the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, she led the misdemeanor, domestic violence, and homicide unit. While there, she also established the First Offender Prostitution Program. 

Jackson joined the law firm in 1997, and shifted the focus of her practice to civil litigation in the areas of employment, trade secrets, bankruptcy, the environment and real estate. She served as the lead trial counsel and handled all litigation matters in an environmental defense case involving California’s Proposition 65. 

Halloween display target  

of city ordinance 

MONTE SERENO — A huge Halloween display in the front yard of a house here is the target of a possible city ordinance that could limit the size and noise of holiday displays. 

Neighbors of Alan and Bonnie Aerts complain their neighborhood is disrupted by the many visitors who come to see the $15,000 Halloween decorations and the Christmas display that can add up to $120,000. 

This year the decorations include a dry ice display, flashing strobe nights and a giant floating spider. 

Alan Aerts was shocked to learn that the city would even consider placing restrictions on the ornaments.