A former Little Canada chiropractor, Paul D. Thompson, who pleaded guilty to raping a client, was sentenced Monday to four years in prison.
Ramsey County District Judge Leonardo Castro handed down the sentence — the maximum amount outlined in a plea deal struck in August — after hearing Kelly Olmstead, an assistant Ramsey County attorney, read from a letter written by the woman who was raped in May.
"I live with this on a daily basis," the victim wrote. "I was ashamed and disgusted …"
Olmstead also read a letter written by the woman's sister, who said that because of the rape, her sister was suicidal, hospitalized twice and suffers depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. "It is even a challenge for her to wake up in the morning," the sister wrote.
The judge told Thompson, 54, of Vadnais Heights, that he struggled with his decision.
Thompson attorney Michael Colich asked the judge to sentence his client to 96 months in prison but to stay that for one year in the county jail and 15 years' probation. He noted Thompson "immediately" acknowledged his crime when confronted by police.
Olmstead argued that Thompson groomed his victim, who was especially vulnerable because of her small size (about 80 pounds) and emotional state. Thompson treated the woman for years as he developed his "gradual, calculated" plan, Olmstead said.
"It's been about him and his needs from Day One," Olmstead said.
