A Regina chiropractor was sentenced Monday to 15 months in the community for sexually assaulting a patient.
Court of King’s Bench Justice Janet McMurtry said a prison sentence would have made it difficult for Ruben Manz to support his family.
“Incarceration, in my view, would overemphasize the gravity of the offence,” said McMurtry.
“I’m satisfied a conditional sentence properly denounces Dr. Manz’s conduct and will serve to deter him and others in the health care field who are in a similar position of trust towards their patients.”
Manz was accused of touching or pulling the breasts of seven female patients while stretching their necks between 2010 and 2020.
A jury found him guilty on one count of sexual assault, not guilty on five other counts and a mistrial was determined on the remaining count.
The Crown argued Manz sexually touched the women for no legitimate medical purpose, betraying their trust in him as a medical caregiver.
Manz testified that he got his patients to fill out forms and asked for their consent before working on sensitive areas of the body, including the chest and buttocks.
If patients told him they were uncomfortable, he said, he stopped.
The judge said Manz must follow a curfew and have no contact with the victim, as well as keep the peace and be on good behaviour.
The chiropractor hugged his wife and children in the courtroom after receiving the sentence.
“I think he’s feeling relieved he’s going home with his family tonight,” defence lawyer Blaine Beaven later told reporters outside court.
“He knows there’s going to be a lot of work for him to do on the (conditional sentence order), though he’s happy he’s not going to jail tonight.”
Manz’s other lawyer, Kathy Hodgson-Smith, added she was pleased with the outcome, as the defence had sought a conditional sentence.
Prosecutor Carmody Hallamore said outside court it’s not a decision the Crown had wanted. She had argued for prison time.
“I think the Crown is certainly disappointed, but there’s room to say it was a just and appropriate outcome.”
