SF therapist sentenced for sexual assault on patient

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A former Sioux Falls counselor will now spend five years in prison for sexually taking advantage of a patient.

Tuesday afternoon, a judge sentenced 60-year-old Roy Conrad to five years behind bars and he was immediately taken into custody.

Licensed therapist pleads guilty

Earlier this year, Conrad pleaded guilty to two counts of penetration by a psychotherapist.Before his sentencing, the judge heard from Conrad’s former patient and her daughter.

Former Sioux Falls therapist plans to plead guilty

In her statement, the victim detailed her experiences with Conrad that included hugs before and after her sessions as well as Conrad touching her stomach and breasts. The victim said Conrad told her it was all to help her with her fear of physical touch. She says the touching intensified to “assault multiple times a week.”

“You know, what’s so wrong about this particular offense, under our law, is that a counselor is in a position of trust,” Lincoln County State’s Attorney Tom Wollman said. “And a position that we would call a power-differential, meaning that the counselor has that power over his patient. In this case, the doctor manipulated and exploited a lot of those vulnerabilities that this victim presented with.”

While handing down her sentence, Judge Rachel Rasmussen said that the relationship between Conrad and the victim was not an affair but rather “sexual assault, pure and simple.”

The judge stated that the law protects those in the most vulnerable positions and that under Conrad’s charges, consent is “not a defense.”

“Counselors should not be touching you,” Wollman said. “Counselors should not be inviting you to engage in a personal relationship with them outside of that counseling and professional relationship. Those are red flags.”

Conrad also spoke in court Tuesday, apologizing to the victim and saying his conduct was “despicable” and that he has no excuse for his behavior.

As part of his sentencing, Conrad is not to have contact with the victim or her family, and he has to pay over $7,700 in restitution.

As part of a psychosexual evaluation before the sentencing, it was recommended that Conrad not practice as a therapist, especially with female clients. The judge highlighted that recommendation in court Tuesday.