BANGOR, Maine — A former psychologist pleaded guilty Friday to engaging in sex acts with a client in his Bangor office and billing the therapy sessions to MaineCare, according to a press release from Maine Attorney General William Schneider.
John A. Keefe, 60, of Veazie pleaded guilty in Penobscot County Superior Court to one count of class C gross sexual assault and one count of class B theft by deception. He was sentenced on each count to three years in prison with all but four months suspended, to be served concurrently, and two years of probation.
Keefe was also ordered to pay $14,806.52 in restitution to MaineCare.
He is scheduled to report to Penobscot County Jail on Monday.
From 2007 to 2010, Keefe engaged in sexual acts with a female client while claiming to provide her with mental health therapy, according to the release. Some of the sexual acts occurred at Keefe’s office at Columbia Psychology Associates in Bangor during therapy sessions that Keefe charged to MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program.
“Medical professionals in Maine are held to high ethical standards and conduct that exploits patients is a breach of trust,” Schneider said in the release. “Committing sexual assault of a patient is not only immoral, it is illegal and punishable by jail time.”
Keefe surrendered his license to practice psychology in Maine on June 22, 2010, according to the release. His license was previously suspended in 1996 after he was reprimanded by the Maine Board of Examiners of Psychologists for engaging in “sexual intimacies” with a client. He was fined $6,000, and his license was reinstated in 1998.
Further proceedings regarding Keefe’s license are expected, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
The recent case was investigated by the Bangor Police Department and Attorney General Schneider’s Criminal Division, Healthcare Crimes Unit, with assistance from the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit.
The Healthcare Crimes Unit is the Medicaid fraud control unit for the state of Maine charged with investigating and prosecuting financial fraud and other crimes committed by MaineCare providers or their employees, and investigating and prosecuting abuse, neglect or exploitation that occurs in health care facilities or is committed by health care providers.
Keefe formerly wrote a column for the Bangor Daily News in 1997 and contributed to the newspaper’s “Finding a Fix” column about substance abuse.
Keefe formerly wrote a column for the Bangor Daily News in 1997 and contributed to the newspaper’s “Finding a Fix” column about substance abuse……yea “Finding a Fix”, i bet ya he did…
The important thing to remember is THERE IS NO WELFARE FRAUD IN MAINE. That being said “Medical professionals in Maine are held to high ethical standards” If that’s the case he should have received the maximum sentence. A guy from Lewiston was just sentence to 6 months for fraud and this guy gets 4 months? He did lose his license once before.
Unfortunately, the providers who game the system are not held to the same standard as the clients are. At least that is the way it seems to me.
No, they get elected to be Speaker of the House.
Sometimes you feel like a Nutting~ and sometimes you are
This is certainly not how the Neo- Know Nothings describe all that welfare fraud, now,
is it ?
I think it is a lot more complex than the Tea People say typical welfare fraud is .
It is like with the voter fraud issue, and if the elected Paul delegates or the GOP State Committee appointed Romney ones were really the frauds in Tampa, in that one must think outside the conservative’s little box to get the real picture of how the frauds are perpetrated.
In fact, here, the welfare fraud money ends up where ?
With the Doctor, not his welfare queen, huh ?
While the rich get richer, the little people just get …… what ?
What is so complexing about having sex with a patient and sending Mainecare a bill. Geesh, so easy a Cave man could do it! Sorry, can’t print what the welfare queen got
What is not complicated, from a psychological point of view about a doctor,
both doing that, AGAIN, then being so greedy, or so desperate to get caught,
again, as to bill his hours too, so leaving a paper trail ?
This is less about the right wing’s over simplification of fraud… be it welfare or voter fraud, used to further their political agenda… than it is about a failure of the medical establishment to police itself and prevent known sexual predators from acting out their perversions repeatedly.
The topic here should be who is covering up for professionals that are also sexual predictors, not just the predator’s arrogant greed.
But, hey, let’s be real, too, and all admit over billing for hours, is just business as it really is done, after all, and now that Maine is open for business, from the top downwards, if you are properly connected, so it goes.
Nothing to see there, because voter fraud is where it at politically.
So I think the important question, point that we might agree upon, no matter if you are Tea People , RINOs, or too damned liberal might be if the Maine Board of Examiners of Psychologists should be added to a bunch of Sheriff’s Deputies, college presidents, football coaches and Bishops as likely suspects in covering up and/or not doing enough to stop sexual predators of certain a professional status, perhaps ?
>>
the little people just get …… what ?
it begins with an f and ends in cked
I’m afraid that you let your anger take away from your argument. Liberals are quite emotional. You may want to switch away from CNN and its five or six viewers.
Right, I should be cool like you and more laid back about sexual predators.
No, you should be cool, stand back and figure out where you libs are getting it wrong.
” figure out where you libs are getting it wrong.”
1) not totally agreeing with “no compromise” conservatives on every point, integrity aside, like how the “no compromise” conservatives operate.
2) bothering to argue with “no compromise” with whom you do not totally agree.
3) having too much respect for individuals to reply to every “no compromise” conservative political gambit, comment or statement with ONLY :
” What place do those that can not, or will not, compromise have at the table where decisions or policies about the future are being decided, ever ? ”
… over and over again, every time the simple, monochromatic, “no compromise” bully-boys exercise their weak political tactic.
That covers it, here, thank you for asking.
Sincerely, thank you for suggesting that .
It has been liberating !
Bath
salts ?
No thank you.
But just out of curiosity how much do you charge for what you are peddling here ?
Not sure if you can “be cool.” One thing that might help you “be cool” is to check out the refraction on the prism you seem to view the world through. Lots of anger & blame for disparate entities w/regard to this – i.e. “Tea People, RINO’s, right wingers, etc.” That is relevant how? In any event, I hope you are able to get the help that you need. I think that there are more GOOD people involved in the mental health field than the “Dr.” illustrated in this story… Good luck!
While the rich get richer, the little people just get …… what ?
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A gratifying therapy session?
Hum, very interesting. Republicans (Tea people) are to blame for this doctor having sex with his client? How do you know he is not a Democrat?
I rememvber in 1992 when Jerry Brown won the Democrat caucus and Saint George (Mitchell and the Democrat hiarchy sent all Clinton delegates to the convention. Funny that never gets mentioned, except by me.
Get off your high horse. politics is about graft, theft, corruption, and individual grabs for power.
Answer to your final question; “…the little people get …..what?” the answer is “duped” by both parties.
Do you always talk to ( argue with) yourself ?
Well, honestly, who really said : ” Republicans (Tea people) are to blame for this doctor having sex with his client? ”
There are always people in the system who get away with fraud every day until they get looked at by the right people who want to clean up.
You would think that having done the same thing before should have gotten him more jail time and a bigger fine. Dumb arse….what was he thinking?
This, however, is not the kind of fraud most people talk about, when they complain about people abusing the system.
This kind of stuff happens all the time, but it almost never prosecuted.
I also don’t recall anyone saying there is NO fraud.
Who exactly says there is no welfare fraud in Maine? I’m a “liberal” in that I think most problems are complex and the “law of unintended consequences” is ruthless. Anyone, left or right, who thinks there is no welfare fraud in Maine is a fool. The intelligent question is what’s the extent of the fraud and is the “medicine” worse than the disease? What is your proposal exactly, or are you just a professional whiner? (Seriously, I think people are PAID to post here).
Its also interesting that you take examples of the system working and try to turn them into failures. Nice tactic. The only “perfect” system is that made by god.. oh yeah, he/she/it made us.
NICE GUY!!!
And yet another welfare fraudster gets the boot…next case, please!
Sorry.
Wonder where he will commit his crimes next…..his punishment is so light he certainly will not be deterred from repeating his behavior because of it. First instance, a fine and loss of license for only two years (should have been for life). Second instance, two years with all but four months suspended. That amount to nothing but enabling his behavior. Shame on our “justice” system.
Although on the face of it 4 months in jail seems “light” (and there is most certainly an argument to be made it should be significantly longer…) do not kid yourself that 4 months in PCJ is a cakewalk….at all. It is miserable, uncomfortable, disgusting food and your privacy is non-existent among other things. There is NO DOUBT that he will be affected by a 4 month long stint, especially considering he was once a “professional” most likely accustomed to a cushy civilian lifestyle.
The more significant penalty will be if his license to practice is in fact revoked….good luck making a career change @ 60 with a criminal record.
Didn’t the Republican Maine Senate Majority Leader deFRAUD Medicare too and for a lot more? And he still gets to be the Senate Leader
It was Nutting and he’s Speaker of the House, not a Senator. As, yes, he got away scott free defrauding Medicaid of $1.3 million. Not saying any fraud is okay, but something is so wrong with this picture.
I did not realize that he was convicted of fraud – can you give us a link to the story?
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2010/11/17/politics/nutting-says-medicaid-overbilling-was-an-honest-mistake/
Thanks for the link LLPVT…..very interesting. I had forgotten about that (as I’m sure all the repubs had hoped). I’ll be anxious (not) to read all the justifications, spin, and excuses all the anti-dems have to say about it IF (BIG IF) they bother to read the article. We got a good start from jdtex who counters that “He learned it from watching the dems”…..let’s hope the spin gets better from that very weak start. Let the hypocrisy begin!!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99361676
“Not saying any fraud is okay, but something is so wrong with this picture.”
****************************************************
You think that’s something !!!! Listen to this !
A former president of the New York Federal Reserve failed to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes while working at the International Monetary Fund. He is now Secretary of the Treasury and his name is Timothy Geithner. Oh BTW…he said “it was an honest mistake.” That excuse was good enough for Obama.
” Oh what a Rangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive! “
He learned it from watching the dems a long time.
It’s important to remember that one person should not automatically represent all
Four months. Why bother locking him up at all? Now that he doesn’t have patients to prey upon, will this predator stop sexually abusing women or must we wait and see?
He is a sexual predator and will just move to another state, get hired at some rehab or mental health facility and begin all over again. Should have lost his license for life and be forced to register as a sex offender for life as well.
So, in a way, he kinda screwed everybody?
You mean,like the oxys that Maine care is paying for and then they get resold for big bucks?This is nothing compare to some of it,although,you’ve gotta admit,the guy has guts to go thru with it..
Registered Democrat
I didn’t know it was legal to charge for sex,, Oh wait!!! my wife says as long as your not aware your paying it’s OK.
I used to work with John “Jack”. I once brought up concerns to him about poor boundaries with other staff and clients and he was quite irritated with me that I had said anything. It all makes sense now. I feel bad for his wife- she was very sweet and deserves better than him.
I think they should release some additional details so we can be sure they’re not covering up for anybody. For starters, an explanation of how this case came to their attention would be nice. Then we need to know if the victim was on SSI or trying to get SSI for any mental health issues related to this “therapy”. If it turns out he was trading SSI eligibility for sex, four months is nowhere near enough time.
I think they should release some additional details so we can be sure they’re not covering up for anybody. For starters, an explanation of how this case came to their attention would be nice. Then we need to know if the victim was on SSI or trying to get SSI for any mental health issues related to this “therapy”. If it turns out he was trading SSI eligibility for sex, four months is nowhere near enough time.
I hope the state took his license to practice.
I hope the state took his license to practice.
Well, there always used to be a bartering system for payment of services, why not? That’s pathetic in all seriousness. Exploitation of a person who is ill and needs help.
He needs to have his lisence taken away for good- he has had one chance to redeem himself & blew it
Some mornings an inordinate amount of humorous commentary appears on these pages.
Today someone, who might well believe that our country is broke because hoards of depraved welfare mothers have single-handedly depleted the U. S. Treasury, tongue-in-cheekily writes:
“The important thing to remember is THERE IS NO WELFARE FRAUD IN MAINE.”
His neighbor with one of those annoying memories asks, “Didn’t the Republican Maine Senate Majority Leader deFRAUD Medicare too and for a lot more? And he still gets to be the Senate
Leader”
Whereupon, someone echoes, “It was Nutting and he’s Speaker of the House, not a Senator.
As, yes, he got away scott free defrauding Medicaid of $1.3 million.”
Keep em coming and we’ll keep reading.
The humble Farmer
I can’t believe he’s only going to spend a few months in jail. 4 or 5 years would have been more appropriate, and then be forced to register as a sexual predator. Anyone who uses his/her position of power and trust, over vulnerable individuals who have come to them for help, to satisfy their own sexual urges is the lowest of scum. Then, you add in that he was defrauding the state to pay for his abuse of a patient, and this guy needs to go away for a LOOOOONG time!
You think the Maine taxpayers should support this guy for five years at $42,000 per annum? How about fining him big-time, and letting him work it off in a supervised enviornment?
I think it only fair to see a picture of the person who contributed to this fraud and what she received for a sentence.
Keefe “sexually assaulted a client” and he has to return 14k to the state, spend 4 months in jail on a split sentence for the sexual assault and Mainecare fraud.
So that would be 2 months prison time for “SEXUALLY ASSAULTING” a client. What does this client get? Why is this not being taken more seriously by AG?
That’s not acceptable. Minimized a Sexual Assault by a medical professional. Not just cool..
Now you can see why people dont’ come forward:/
This guy fits right in since Bangor is the sex offender capital of Maine.
“Medical professionals in Maine are held to high ethical standards and conduct that exploits patients …….. it is illegal and punishable by jail time.” Wow! What BS! The Maine OLR and Dir Anne Head are NOT ethical, nor do they have “standards”!!!! My therapist got away with assaulting me and Anne Head and the Maine OLR neither investigated, nor spoke to witnesses. They were all on the side of the so-called ‘professional’. 11 years later and I am still suffering from this assault. No one cares. Anne Head needs to resign – she lacks education, empathy for the victim, and the knowledge and skills on how to investigate a complaint. Instead she turns on you and threatens and does nothing. The people working in that office are rude and inconsiderate – are they not educated in the process of working with mental health clients? Therapist abuse in Maine, and indeed, the entire country, is rampant. Violations of the NASW code of ethics is huge and ongoing.
Interesting how the conversation w/many immediately reverts to politics. Annoying! The issue at hand involves a licensed professional who violated his oath and code of ethics, at least twice. The people he councels are vulnerable and he took advantage of them. Even it was mutual he crossed the line. I don’t care if he was a Rep or Dem. Bye Bye license!
What he did by having sex with his client was wrong i totally agree. But if the person was over the age of 18 then she/he was able to make a adult decision to engage in sex with the docter.
And he should NEVER be able to get his lisc back again in ANY State!!
He should permantly lose his license to practice and spend full time in prison.
Anyone started thinking of that “sexual healing” song? I had state health insurance when I was younger and living in Vermont. A secretary made a boo boo at the office and sent me a copy of what they were charging the state for my visits. There were dates of appts I never attended, countless lab tests I never recieved. I immediately called the State, I do not believe the woman’s financial status is relevant, all kidding aside. Therapists and anyone in the counseling profession take on a very parental role. So when someone knows all your deepest vulnerabilities or uses an uncontrolled mental problem and exploits them for there own sexual gratification, it makes them not only an emotional predator, but a sexual repeat offender in his case. They need to start having stricter consequences. How the heck did whether or not he is a democrat, liberal or republican become relevant. One word.. IMMORAL!
Who gives a rip if its Mainecare or private insurance. The patient was seeking psychological treatment and was obviously vulnerable. Very disturbing…… and guess what?This has been going on for a while-with many professionals..check the Maine Board of Medicine. Hmmmm.. were all the victims Mainecare recipients? …. doubt it….Furthermore,.this mans license should have never been reinstated or at the least he should have been chaperoned. Sick!