Sex With Patient Puts Rochester Therapist in Prison

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester therapist is headed to prison for an illegal sexual relationship with a patient.

43-year-old Mandy Hyland previously entered a guilty plea to a third-degree criminal sexual conduct charge in the case. She was accused of sexually assaulting a patient over a period of several months.

READ MORE: Rochester Therapist Enters Guilty Plea to Felony Sex Abuse Charge

The criminal complaint indicates Hyland became the target of an investigation by Rochester police after the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center submitted a report concerning the sexual abuse allegations. The court document says the victim initially denied that any abuse had taken place, but later sent an email that included messages indicating there was a sexual relationship.

The messages detailed in the court record were sent by Hyland and included sexually explicit photos. The evidence also included a series of text messages between the victim and a third party that acknowledged a sexual relationship was taking place.

The criminal complaint notes the décor of a room at Hyland's former psychiatry office was recognized as the background for one of the photos. Investigators were also able to match the background of another sexually explicit photo that was sent to the victim by Hyland with a room inside her home.

Court documents state that the victim in the case checked himself into a mental health crisis center, citing fear and confusion over Hyland's continued contact with him. The criminal sexual conduct charge that she admitted to in October covers sexual activity that is prohibited by an occupational relationship.

Hyland's plea deal included a recommendation by Olmsted County prosecutors for a jail sentence of no longer than 30 days if a presentence investigation determined that she is amenable to probation. The judge presiding over her case today ordered her to serve a four-year prison sentence with credit for the 28 days she has already spent in jail. She will also have to serve 10 years on conditional release after she completes her prison time.

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