Rehab specialist faces fondling charges

Courage Center employee charged with criminal sexual conduct.

Last update: October 3, 2008 - 12:10 AM

A rehab specialist at Courage Center is facing allegations that he inappropriately touched a female patient over a period of two years and exposed himself to her this summer.

Ronald Martin Bateman, 61, of New Hope, was charged this week in Hennepin County District Court with two counts of criminal sexual conduct.

Bateman is a licensed doctor of osteopathic medicine and specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Courage Center. He had been treating the victim since 2001 for muscle pain in her neck, back and legs from cerebral palsy, according to the criminal complaint. In 2006, Bateman allegedly began to touch the victim's breasts, buttocks and genital area. After the victim questioned why he was doing that, he told her that touching or manipulating private parts "was necessary for her treatment," the criminal complaint said.

It is unknown whether Bateman still works at Courage Center.

LORA PABST

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