A Vernon, B.C. physiotherapist charged with 16 counts of sexual assault, involving 16 different complainants, has pleaded guilty to nine of the charges.
Stephen Witvoet entered the guilty pleas in Vernon Provincial Court on Monday afternoon.
The Coldstream man in his late 40s worked as a physiotherapist in Vernon for more than a decade.
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Court heard Monday that the sexual assault counts to which Witvoet entered guilty pleas all involved unsolicited touching of patients’ breasts or groins during the course of treatment.
Monday’s guilty pleas appeared be part of a plea bargain between Crown and defence.
The two sides were jointly asking for an 18-month conditional sentence order, which would mean no jail time for Witvoet, followed by 24 months probation.
The lawyers were also proposing Witvoet be put on a number of conditions, including a requirement that he not treat female patients for the length of his sentence, including his probation.
Crown counsel argued that it was an aggravating factor that Witvoet was in a position of trust and authority with his patients, saying they had come to him for pain relief and he had abused their trust.
However, the prosecutor said the judge should also take into consideration Witvoet’s guilty pleas which saved most of the complainants from testifying.
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Witvoet’s lawyer told the court his client is “immensely sorry” and has sought counselling.
Defence counsel also urged the judge to take into account the collateral impacts the charges have had on Witvoet’s life.
His lawyer said he was currently not working as a physiotherapist, has basically closed his once-successful physiotherapy clinic and is separated from his family.
The judge wanted additional information from Crown and defence on case law so the hearing has been adjourned.
The case will be back in court on Wednesday to schedule a date for the sentencing hearing to continue.
Growing number of charges
This case has been building for years.
The number of charges Witvoet faced grew significantly after police put out a public appeal for information earlier this year.
Witvoet was originally charged with two counts of sexual assault back in December 2017 and those charges proceeded to a trial which was never completed.
Almost a year and a half later, in early June of this year, two additional sexual assault charges were added, bringing the total charges to four.
At that time, police put out a public appeal for information and said Witvoet had been working as a physiotherapist in Vernon for 14 years starting in 2005.
“We believe given the length of time he has been practicing, there may be potential victims who have not already reported to the police, we are asking those people to come forward now,” said RCMP Const. Kelly Brett in a June media release.
Subsequently, Witvoet was charged with 12 more counts of sexual assault, bringing the total number of sexual assault charges to 16.
As Witvoet’s legal cases move through the court system, the College of Physical Therapists of B.C. has also moved to limit the scope of his practice.
In July, it imposed seven conditions on him, including a ban on treating female patients, pending the outcome of an investigation and any discipline process.
The college said it was limiting Witvoet’s practice because of two charges of sexual assault in connection with two female patients “for conduct that occurred while he was engaged in the practice of physical therapy.”
On Monday, the college said if Witvoet did plead guilty it would be asking him to relinquish his registration or face a discipline hearing which could lead to his registration being cancelled.
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