Ex-Platte City doctor convicted of sexually abusing 13-year-old: Prosecutors
A 43-year-old Platte County physician has been found guilty of four felonies, including statutory sodomy, in the case of a 13-year-old girl who reported in 2020 that he had sexually assaulted her.
Dr. Jonathan Philippe, of Platte City, was convicted Friday of two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, one count of attempted enticement of a child and one count of third-degree child molestation, Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd announced Monday. The guilty verdict came after a five-day trial in Platte County Circuit Court.
The allegations against Philippe came to light in early 2020 after a 13-year-old girl told another adult of the abuse. It was later investigated by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department after a report was made to the agency. Prosecutors say the 13-year-old was not a patient or family member to Philippe.
At trial, prosecutors say Philippe took the stand in his own defense and maintained he was innocent.
In a statement Monday, Zahnd said Philippe relied on “his stature in the community” in an attempt to “get away with abusing a teenager.”
“Fortunately, his power and prestige did not prevent him from being held accountable for his terrible crimes,” Zahnd said.
“The young victim in this case hesitated to disclose her abuse for fear that no one would believe her. But a Platte County jury did believe her,” Zahnd added. “She showed extraordinary courage in reporting these awful crimes, and the jury’s verdict reinforces that no one is above the law.”
Prosecutors say Philippe now faces a 30-year term in a Missouri prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in March.
As of Monday, Philippe was being held in the Platte County jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
This story was originally published February 6, 2023 at 7:46 PM.
