The Associated Press
Psychiatrist pleads to crime of sex with patient

An Essex Junction psychiatrist pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating the law by having sexual relations with a female patient.

Dr. Peter McKenna pleaded guilty to the charge in Vermont District Court for Chittenden County.
Both the judge and prosecutor agreed that the sentence – 60 days on a prison work crew and 20 hours of community service – was not sufficiently stiff to fit the crime.

But the prosecutor said the mentally ill victim of the crime was in too vulnerable state to call as a witness, so McKenna could not be put on trial.

Vermont is one of the few states that makes it a crime for a psychiatrist to have sex with a patient.