A Platte City physician has been convicted by a jury of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl.
Philippe
Dr. Jonathan Philippe, 43, was found guilty on Friday, Feb. 3 of two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, one count of attempted enticement of a child, and one count of child molestation in the third degree after a five-day trial.
“The young victim in this case hesitated to disclose her abuse for fear that no one would believe her,” said Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd. “But a Platte County jury did believe her. She showed extraordinary courage in reporting these awful crimes, and the jury’s verdict reinforces that no one is above the law.”
Prosecutors proved that in early 2020, Philippe began sexually abusing a young girl who was not a patient or family member. She disclosed the abuse to another adult, who ultimately reported it to the Platte County Sheriff’s Department.
Philippe testified during the trial, and his criminal defense lawyer spent much time asking about his medical practice. During the trial’s sentencing phase, he again took the stand and refused to accept responsibility for his actions, claiming that the jury “believed the wrong person,” despite having been found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
“This defendant relied on his stature in the community as a physician to try to get away with abusing a teenager,” Zahnd said. “Fortunately, his power and prestige did not prevent him from being held accountable for his terrible crimes.”
The jury recommended sentences of 10 years on each count of statutory sodomy, seven years for attempted enticement and three years for child molestation.
By law, those sentences are required to run consecutively, meaning Philippe will serve a 30-year prison sentence.
Sentencing is set for March 24. Philippe is currently being held in the Platte County jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
The case was investigated by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department.
The victim was treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital and completed a child forensic interview at Synergy Services. The case was tried by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Myles Perry and First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Gibson.