Ottawa chiropractor who assaulted 3 patients appeals conviction

A retired Ottawa chiropractor is appealing his conviction for sexually assaulting three of his patients, and his sentence of seven months of house arrest and another eight months of curfew is on hold pending his appeal. 

Michael Beaton, 77, received the 15-month conditional sentence in court Tuesday after being convicted in June of two cases of indecent assault and one case of sexual assault involving three male patients who had sought treatment from him for neck and back pain.

• Michael Beaton, retired Ottawa chiropractor, was a 'sexual predator,' victim says
• Beaton guilty of sexually assaulting 3 patients

The incidents took place between 1979 and 2003. The patients had been lying on his treatment bed in various states of undress, the court heard, when Beaton fondled them.

'Michael Beaton is a sexual predator and pervert who used his profession and friendships to abuse unsuspecting clients and friends.'- Victim

Immediately after the sentence was handed down, defence lawyer Richard Auger filed an appeal of all three convictions "on a whole host of grounds."

Beaton will not be put under house arrest while his convictions are being appealed, according to Auger.

"We've obtained an order from the court of appeal staying that conditional sentence and house arrest, which means that it's on hold until the court of appeal can deal with the conviction appeal," said Auger.

Auger said his client was relieved the trial was over, and was looking forward to the next step in the process. 

Victim 'disappointed' with house arrest sentence

After the sentence was announced, one victim said "it would have been nice" if the retired chiropractor had been sent to jail.

"I'm disappointed, but at least he's convicted," said the victim, who cannot be named, in an interview with CBC News.

"He should have got jail time."

In a victim's impact statement read in court on Monday, the same victim said he still suffers from "severe panic attacks and anxiety" when dealing with doctors.

"Michael Beaton is a sexual predator and pervert who used his profession and friendships to abuse unsuspecting clients and friends," said crown attorney James Cavanagh, reading the statement on the man's behalf. "He used his predatory skills to take advantage of me and others."

Cavanagh had asked Justice Douglas Rutherford to impose a jail sentence of 12 to 18 months.

Judge 'very cautious' about victim statement

Beaton's lawyer, Richard Auger, urged Rutherford to give "little to no weight" to the man's statement, alleging that the man had called Beaton and his defence team directly, claiming he had information that would help Beaton's case and asking for money. Auger said he did not return the man's call. 

In his decision, Rutherford said he was "inclined to be very cautious" in giving the victim's impact statement weight, given the allegation. 

In an interview with CBC News, the victim admitted he made a mistake when contacting the defence to ask for payment.

"I'm naive. I don't know how the legal system works," he said.