HASTINGS, Minn. — A Twin Cities psychiatrist has pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a woman who sought help for past sexual assaults.
Gavin Meany, 38, of Apple Valley, entered the plea Thursday to four counts of felony third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Dakota County District Court.
A criminal complaint says the woman began seeing Meany at a St. Louis Park clinic because of past trauma that involved prior sexual assaults from her youth, as well as domestic violence from a prior partner.
The complaint says the two had sexual contact beginning in May 2017 to this past August, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
“Criminal activity of this nature is a significant breach of trust by a psychotherapist as to any patient,” Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said in a statement Thursday. “We are pleased the defendant has accepted responsibility for this egregious behavior by his guilty plea today.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 20.
