Jonathan Yates, a doctor at the veterans’ affairs medical center in Beckley, West Virginia, was sentenced to 25 years in prison Monday for sexually abusing three patients.
Yates pleaded guilty in September to three felony charges of deprivation of rights under color of law, admitting to having rubbed the genitals of two veterans, and digitally penetrating a third according to the Department of Justice. (REPORT: Nearly 2,000 COVID-19 Vaccines Spoiled At VA Hospital By Loose Freezer Plug)
Perv VA doctor gets 25 years for sexually abusing patients https://t.co/2hzG3lHaWb pic.twitter.com/MAPm4U8NLB
— New York Post (@nypost) January 25, 2021
“In a despicable betrayal of his oath, he used his specialized medical knowledge and expertise to sexually abuse his own patients,” Deputy Assistant Attorney General Gregory Friel of the Civil Rights Division said. “It is a testament to the bravery of our veterans that so many came forward to bring this defendant to justice.”
One of the victims told investigators that Yates groped his genitals, the New York Post reports. After the victim refused, Yates allegedly cracked his neck and made him go numb.
“He was not supposed to do this,” the victim reportedly said in a witness statement. “I made it clear from the beginning of this session that he was not to crack my neck. I was in shock, could not even speak.”
At the VA Medical Center in Beckley, Yates performed osteopathic manipulative therapy before being fired the press release adds.