Canadian psychiatrist guilty of sex abuse

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CALGARY, Alberta, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- An attorney for a Canadian psychiatrist convicted of sexually assaulting a patient said he would seek a sentence of 60-to-180 days in jail.

A jury in Calgary, Alberta, convicted Dr. Aubrey Levin Monday of thee counts of sexually assaulting a patient who secretly videotaped Levin fondling him on two occasions -- one of which lasted about 15 minutes.

The jury was deadlocked on several other charges after a four month trial, leading Court of Queen's Bench Justice Donna Shelley to declare a mistrial on those charges.

Prosecutors praised the patient, identified publicly by the initials RB, for coming forward despite a long history of petty crime, mental illness and substance abuse.

"For him to step forward and be the catalyst at stopping this abuse, as ironic as it is, the community owes him a gratitude," prosecutor Bill Wister told the Calgary Herald Tuesday.

Wister said he would seek a sentence of four to seven years in prison. Levin's defense attorney Chris Archer said the assaults were minor and could only warrant a 60- to 180-day jail sentence.

After the initial accusations were levied against Levin, 73, a total of 21 complaints were registered, though prosecutors withdrew many of them prior to trial, the Herald said.