Dunwoody psychiatrist indicted in sexual assault case
A Dunwoody psychiatrist used his power over a patient to have sex with her, according to an indictment filed Thursday in DeKalb County Superior Court.
The grand jury indicted Dr. Seth Alex Pope on a count of sexual assault against a patient, alleging that he used his "treatment and counseling relationship" to "facilitate sexual contact" with a woman during a nine-month span beginning in May 2006. Pope, 59, was also indicted on a count of prescribing drugs illegally to her. The indictment says he dispensed an "unknown controlled substance," but didn't elaborate on the nature of the drug nor a motive in providing it.
Pope could not be reached for comment. The phone at his office on Peachford Road went unanswered Thursday. The patient's name is being withheld because the Atlanta Journal-Constitution does not identify victims of sexual assault.
Pope attended the University of Ghana and then Emory University's medical school before doing a psychiatry residency at Emory, according to the Georgia Composite State Board of Medical Examiners. The board, which licenses physicians, listed no disciplinary actions, criminal offenses or malpractice settlements against Pope.
About the Author
Ty Tagami is a staff writer for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Since joining the newspaper in 2002, he has written about everything from hurricanes to homelessness. He has deep experience covering local government and education, and can often be found under the Gold Dome when lawmakers meet or in a school somewhere in the state.
