Sitka doctor charged with sexual assault, remains out of the country, police say

(KGWN)
Published: Apr. 9, 2019 at 12:21 PM AKDT
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An Alaska doctor is being charged with multiple counts of sexually assaulting a patient, and an extraditable warrant has been issued for his arrest, as he is reportedly out of the country.

Richard W. McGrath, a 75-year-old family doctor based in Sitka, allegedly sexually assaulted a patient multiple times last year, according to authorities.

Serena Wild, spokesperson for Sitka Police Department, said the case of sexual assault against McGrath was first reported to police in December of 2018.

Wild said that McGrath was indicted last week following an investigation and further collection of evidence. Wild said right now there are not thought to be additional victims.

McGrath was an Emergency Room doctor at Sitka Community Hospital for about four years, said hospital CEO Rob Allen. Allen says in the four years he'd been in Sitka, McGrath worked as an emergency room doctor and had spent one year treating patients in the hospital's clinic.

McGrath was put on administrative leave in December when the hospital learned of the allegations, Allen said.

According to court records, McGrath faces two charges of sexual assault contact without consent, and three charges of sexual assault contact by a health professional.

A $25,000 warrant was issued for his arrest on Friday, according to SPD. Wild said Tuesday that McGrath is currently out of the country, but as the arrest warrant is extraditable, if he's found, he could be arrested abroad and brought back to Alaska for arraignment.

Channel 2's Kortnie Horazdovsky also contributed to this report.