Former Manhattan chiropractor Clark Petersen was sentenced to 32 years in prison Friday morning for 51 sex crimes, including rape, against 16 patients.
A Riley County District Court jury in August found Petersen, 66, guilty of four counts of rape, 40 counts of aggravated sexual battery, four counts of sexual battery, one count of lewd and lascivious behavior, one count of attempted rape and one count of attempted aggravated criminal sodomy.
Judge Grant Bannister doubled time for certain charges to emphasize the severity of the crimes. For example, the sentence for four counts of rape would typically be 165 months (more than 13 years) and that became 330 months (more than 27 years). The total sentence for Petersen is 384 months.
“There are four factors in sentencing,” Bannister said. “They are incapacitation, or what you may call incarceration, retribution, deterrence and rehabilitation. Most important are the last two.”
Many of the women addressed the court with victim impact statements. Some cried, and their hands shook as they spoke.
The Mercury does not identify victims of sexual crimes.
One victim, speaking in court, said she had trusted Petersen’s treatments for years before he assaulted her.
“I trusted him,” she said. “I respected him. I respected his wife, Valerie. We had a good rapport, and it pains me to stand here today.”
She said that during her final treatment, she left the session confused and humiliated.
“On Oct. 10, 2022, I left the session confused and humiliated. Dr. Clark Petersen exhibited several strange behaviors, including non-consensual, inappropriate, skin-on-skin touching below the waist. He lay on top of me.”
She said she didn’t know what to make of it but vowed never to return. She said having heard the other women testify, she realized he may have been grooming her for something worse.
“Over the past year, increased anxiety and chronic inflammation aggravated by stress have increased my need for counseling and medical appointments,” she said. “Whenever I enter an exam room, I flash back to that last Petersen session. I tense up at the side of the exam table, even a massage table for one of my good friends. I no longer trust a male health professional touching me … I have transferred my care from two male physicians I have trusted for a combined 50 years, and I now see female doctors.”
Another victim spoke about the way the sexual assault affected her ability to interact with loved ones.
“I became quite, if not completely, closed off from my own family members, co-workers and longtime friends,” she said. “Once an organizer of events and volunteer in various aspects in my community, I became quite withdrawn … I had no desire to interact with anyone, including my own spouse.”
Another woman said she disagreed with the defense’s assertion that Petersen would not offend again just because he is not allowed to practice chiropractics.
“Predators don’t just stop; they have to be stopped,” she said. “His occupation and practice simply provided him an easier opportunity to create victims … If he’s released, he will find a new opportunity. It may take time, but it will happen.”