He is likely not as famous here as he is in his hometown, but Michael B. is the face of various hand clinics in the country, one of which is located right here in Phoenix. While he is famous for his family-oriented commercials played in Texas that advertise his medical center, the former surgeon has now also become infamous.

The suspect is charged with assault following his current wife's accusation that he was violent with her on Aug. 13. Rachel B. alleges that her husband, now out of jail on bail, hurt her by twisting her arm and pulling it behind her back.

Infamy, however, rarely comes from a single case of alleged criminal activity. The former surgeon has been charged with domestic violence before, and he also had his medical license revoked due to drug use.

Michael B. is currently married to his fourth wife, and she is the second of his wives to accuse him of assault. In 2002, the suspect pleaded guilty to assault charges filed by his third wife who is now remarried and cares for their two children.

Darlina B. accused her then husband of beating her while she was pregnant. By pleading no contest to aggravated assault charges, Michael B. was sentenced to 10 years of supervised probation, and he was able to earn the expungement of the assault conviction from his records.

But because this is not his first time facing assault charges, a guilty conviction in this case would increase the severity of his crime to a felony level. If convicted of felony assault, the suspect could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

Resources

The Houston Chronicle: Ex-Houston hand surgeon accused in wife's assault (8/24/2010)