ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND WHAT THE JUDGE CALLED A DESPICABLE WAY.
PROSECUTORS SAY IN 2018, HUGH MCDONALD WAS THE PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN FOR A WOMAN IN HER 40’S WHEN HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIP AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER.
>> THE WOMAN KNEW HOW VULNERABLE SHE WAS.
HE KNEW SHE HAD A HISTORY OF TRAUMA AND KNEW ABOUT HER RESULTING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THOSE FACTS IN A HORRIBLY EGREGIOUS WAY.
>> HE PLEADED GUILTY TO FOUR COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED FELONIOUS SEXUAL ASSAULT TODAY.
HE WILL SPENT FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.
MCDONALD WOULD CALL THE VICTIM AND HAVE HER COME TO HIS NEW MARKET OFFICE DURING OFF HOURS WHERE THE ASSAULTS TOOK PLACE.
THE VICTIM PRESENTED THE COURT WITH A STATEMENT THAT READ, IN PART, WHAT TRUST AND HOPE WE WERE TRYING TO FIND, HE DESTROYED.
PROSECUTORS AGREED TO THIS PLEA BARGAIN TO PROTECT THE VICTIM.
>> SHE IS INTELLIGENT, PERCEPTIVE, KIND, AND BRAVE.
OUR HOPE IS THAT THIS PLEA AGREEMENT SAVES HER FROM HAVING TO TESTIFY AND DEALING WITH APPEAL ISSUES AFTER TRIAL.
>> HIS LICENSE IS SUSPENDED AND HE MUST REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER.
THE JUDGE TOLD MCDONALD THAT IN HER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, SHE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
>> YOUR BEHAVIOR WAS NOT ONLY DESPICABLE AND HORRIFIC, BUT IT WAS SELFISH.
>> THE JUDGE TOLD THE VICTIM THAT SHE DID NOTHING TO DESERVE THIS