An Austin psychiatrist charged with sexually assaulting three of his patients at a Veterans Affairs clinic was found not guilty Thursday.
State District Judge Jon Wisser said there was insufficient evidence that Gregory Vagshenian exploited his patients’ emotional dependency.
Wisser instead found Vagshenian guilty of Class C misdemeanor assault. Vagshenian could be fined up to $500 on each count; there is no jail time. Vagshenian faced up to 20 years in prison on each count of sexual assault.
A Mindful Life / Kathryn Harper
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Appalling abuse of trust. Is there a greater abuse of the counseling relationship than sexual assault?
I agree IF IN FACT the abuse occured. In this case it did not! The media wanted sensationalism and not the truth. The misdemeanors were for unwanted “physical contact” ie: “physical examinations that were required!” If you base your opinion strictly on what is reported in the media you are looking at the distorted truth!
It is true that the media is capable of sensationalism. At the same time, let us not overlook the fact that the judge determined enough evidence existed to find him guilty of misdemanor assault. What is also compelling is that in 1990, he was arrested in California for soliciting a lewd act and subsequently did not list that on his VA job application. His lawyer stated that the omission was not an intention to deceive, and I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s the arrest that concerns me, and which leads me to conclude that the accusations levied against him probably have some basis in fact. Regardless of the degree of violation or the specifics of the act, it remains a violation of ethics and of the law.