Physical Therapist Released From Jail After Possessing Child Porn

Physical therapists help people improve mobility and relieve pain. They have to touch various body parts to help with this. As such, it can be frustrating to hear that a physical therapist possesses sexually explicit images of children.

This is what happened to a physical therapist in Ohio. The 39-year-old man was charged with having images depicting child sex abuse. He was recently released from jail.

The man possessed the material around July 25, 2022. That was when Snapchat initiated the investigation after flagging two images and two videos that contained inappropriate content. These materials were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The West Chester Police Department was made aware of the child porn and filed a search warrant. Investigators got involved and traced the photos to an IP address registered to the physical therapist. According to the search warrant, the images were graphic in nature and involved pubescent and prepubescent girls.

The name of the man’s practice is Freedom Osteopractic Physical Therapy. He was released from jail but was due back in court on February 15 to set a trial date. The man has been a licensed physical therapist since 2016.

In a different unrelated situation, the physical therapist received a written reprimand from the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board. He allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a patient that began in 2018, according to a consent agreement. In 2020, he allegedly texted the patient a photo of him visibly aroused while wearing pants.

In September 2022, the man was released from the consent agreement. He had fulfilled various obligations, including paying a $500 fine and completing a course titled “Professional Boundaries and Ethics.”

Besides being a physical therapist, the man has held various jobs over the years. He was a football coach, substitute teacher, and worked in the IT department of a children’s hospital.

Interestingly, inappropriate patient sexual behavior is common for physical therapists. So it’s more common for patients to act in a sexual manner toward the therapist and not the other way around. Many have said they have encountered sexual remarks, touches, indecent exposure, and even sexual assault. This can be a frustrating situation for physical therapists who strive to act in a professional manner. Many are not trained in how to handle this behavior, often leading to early discharge for the patient.

Keep Your License With Help From a Tampa Physical Therapist License Lawyer

Physical therapists can face allegations of misconduct by having inappropriate relationships with patients. This can cause issues with their licenses.

It’s important to have someone on your side to resolve allegations and help with any appeals.  The Tampa physical therapist license lawyer from The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. can assist you with these often complex processes. To schedule a consultation, call (813) 968-6633 or fill out the online form today.

Source:

wlwt.com/article/west-chester-physical-therapist-matthew-sigler/42793930