Pennsylvania psychologist who billed insurer for illegal 'sex therapy' with patients can't talk his way out of jail

April 10, 2018

A state appeals court panel ruled that Pennsylvania psychologist Richard Lenhart, who had sex with two female patients under the guise of therapy and billed their insurer for it, deserves his 3- to 6-year jail term.  

Both women had been victims of other sexual assaults. One victim said Lenhart developed her trust by claiming to be a pastor as well as a psychologist.  Lenhart, who was arrested in August 2014, told that victim sexual contact with him was likely her last best hope and only bridge to healing and to have healthy relationships.  The other victim testified that Lenhart's "touching therapy" escalated to both of them being nude.

President Judge Susan Peikes Gantman rejected Lenhart's argument that he was over-punished because he had no prior record. Instead, she agreed with county Judge Jonathan Grine's assessment that Lenhart "abandoned all professional ethics when he engaged in sex acts with his highly vulnerable patients for 17 years."  Gantman added that she considers the crimes to be "particularly heinous."

Gantman noted one of the factors Grine cited in imposing the jail term was his opinion that Lenhart "was unable to accept that his conduct was wrong."

SOURCE: Matt Miller, "Psychologist who billed insurer for illegal 'sex therapy' with patients can't talk his way out of jail," Penn Live, 6 Apr 2018, http://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/04/psychologist_who_billed_insure.html.