AUBURN – A man who worked as a doctor in Lewiston until 1995, when he lost his license to practice in Maine, was convicted Monday of assaulting his wife.

Ras Masood, 56, was sentenced to 20 days in jail followed by one year of probation after a jury found him guilty of assault for slapping his wife in the face on Aug. 22, 2003.

Masood did not hire a lawyer for the case.

The former physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist, whose medical license was suspended for “inappropriate prescribing practices,” chose to represent himself at his jury trial Monday.

That meant he cross-examined his own wife and two sons about the allegation against him.

During the daylong trial, Masood’s wife testified that the confrontation between her and her husband began because he was angry that she had called the eye doctor to ask about a problem with her eyes.

She said Masood asked to see her eyes, then he slapped her in the face when she told him not to worry about her. After her 20-year-old son noticed that she was crying, he told his older brother, who then called police.

Masood’s 23-year-old son testified Monday that he called police because he wanted his father to be held responsible for his actions. He testified that it wasn’t the first time that his father had abused his mother.

Both of Masood’s sons and his wife said they love and care for Masood, but they want him to get help for mental health problems.

Masood, who has continued to live with his family in Lewiston, denied slapping his wife. He said he was simply examining her eyes, and he accused the state of going after him because it believes foreigners beat their wives based on what is on television.

The jury of six men and six women reached a verdict of guilty after deliberating for 15 minutes.

Assistant district attorney Nick Worden recommended that Masood get one year of probation and no jail time. But Justice Thomas E. Delahanty II disagreed, sending the former doctor to the Androscoggin County Jail for 20 days.

As a condition of his yearlong probation, Masood must undergo psychological treatment and take the medications prescribed by his doctor. Delahanty barred him from having contact with his wife and two sons until his psychological counseling begins.

The assault on his wife is not the only criminal charge facing Masood.

He was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest earlier this month after an incident in Androscoggin County Superior Court during which sheriff’s deputies used pepper spray to subdue him.

Masood was in court that morning to pick a jury for the assault case. According to police, he lost control after he was told that he could not bring his soda into the courtroom.

Background

According to documents provided by the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine, Masood had a long history of prescribing large quantities of pain medication and other powerful narcotics to people with mental health and substance abuse problems.

His license was suspended in 1995 after two of his patients were treated for overdoses at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center.

At Masood’s request, his hearing before the licensing board was delayed until April 1998, at which time the board agreed to continue his suspension until he completed a yearlong, board-approved fellowship program.

Masood’s license has remained suspended because he never got the additional training. The board may decide to terminate his license for good as a result of his conviction.