DRUG DEATH IS BLAMED ON DENTIST

Court: He Is Accused Of Giving Ecstasy To Woman Who Fell 12 Stories From A
Long Beach Hotel.

A San Diego dentist was charged Tuesday with the involuntary manslaughter
of a woman who fell to her death from a Long Beach hotel after he allegedly
gave her Ecstasy, authorities said.

Sandra Rodriguez, 26, fell from a 12th-floor alcove of the Long Beach Hyatt
shortly after suffering a violent reaction to the drug, Los Angeles Deputy
Dist. Atty. Deborah Montoya said. Dentist Kami Hoss had dragged her from
the room into the hallway after she became ill, Montoya said.

"She didn't want to go, but he dragged her out," the prosecutor said. "He
provided her with the Ecstasy and sees that she's having a violent reaction
and instead of providing care, he throws her out when she obviously
couldn't take care of herself."

After a yearlong investigation, Long Beach police arrested Hoss, 34, at his
Chula Vista office about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, said Officer Jana Blair.

In the early morning hours of May 28 of last year, Hoss and his wife
apparently met three young women at Long Beach's Executive Suite bar,
Montoya said.

The group drove to the Hosses' room at the Hyatt, where the dentist
apparently gave the women Ecstasy, Montoya said.

About 3 a.m., Rodriguez became ill. Hours later, a maintenance worker found
her body on the ground outside the hotel, Montoya said.

Although Hoss' wife was present, she will not be charged, the prosecutor
said. At least one of the other young women in the room saw the dentist
dragging the ill Rodriguez out of the room, Montoya said.

Hoss, whose bail was set at $45,000, is expected to be arraigned today or
Thursday. He could face five years in jail, Montoya said.