By Rose Gruenbacher

The jury in the trial of former Manhattan chiropractor Clark Petersen was not excused Friday morning, despite having reached a verdict in the case the night before. They had the additional task of ruling whether or not a judge could have the possibility of inflicting a more severe punishment than usual.

After about 45 minutes of deliberation, the jury ruled there was evidence of an aggravated factor, meaning Petersen could be sentenced more severely than typical for his crimes.

Upon the finding from the jury, Riley County District Court Judge Grant Bannister revoked Petersen’s bond. Petersen was taken into custody by officers in the courtroom.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more Riley County news.

The post Petersen taken into custody, could face more severe sentence appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

Attorneys for the prosecution and defense of Clark Petersen made closing statements Wednesday in the Riley County district court trial for charges alleging Petersen sexually abused 19 women who were former patients of his.

A former Manhattan chiropractor, Petersen, 66, was arrested in August 2023 for 19 charges, which by the beginning of trial grew to 64 counts, ranging from rape to aggravated sexual battery to aggravated criminal sodomy. Four of the charges have since been dropped by the prosecution.

Representing the state, Christina Trocheck told the jury this case is about the violation of trust of 19 women who had no ill will toward Petersen or his family, and depended on him to help them with pain and discomfort in order to go about their daily lives.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more Riley County news.

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Manhattan budget plan raises taxes 7.7%

Former chiropractor Petersen testifies in sex crimes trial

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By Rose Gruenbacher

Valerie Petersen, wife of former Manhattan chiropractor Clark Petersen, took the witness stand in Riley County District Court Friday, in a trial charging her husband with numerous counts of sex crimes against some of his former patients. She was the first witness called in attorney Nicholas Heiman’s presentation of the defense’s case.

She started working full-time as an office assistant in her husband’s private chiropractic practice around 2004, and stayed until the practice closed after his arrest. She told the jury that in her time working at the office, she didn’t notice any patients that seemed unhappy or upset after their appointment with Clark Petersen.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more local news.

The post Wife of former chiropractor accused of sex crimes against patients testifies in trial appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

The state’s prosecution of Clark Petersen in Riley County District Court revealed two of his alleged victims were not only patients of Petersen, but also personally knew him and his family well.

Petersen, a former Manhattan chiropractor, is on trial for 60 counts of alleged sex crimes against 18 victims. Four counts previously included were dismissed by the prosecution.

The Mercury does not identify victims of sexual crimes.

Victim 10 and Victim 11 said their family had known Petersen’s for multiple years and often spent time together.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

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By Rose Gruenbacher

patient of former Manhattan chiropractor Clark Petersen testified Wednesday that Petersen gave her a card with what seemed to be an invitation to an invite-only experience, following an unusual appointment with him.

The ninth victim to testify in a Riley County District Court case against Petersen said she first went to him for chiropractic care in 2005 as a senior in high school.

She told the jury that adjustments with Petersen were similar to treatment she’d received from other chiropractors, with the exception of the massage Petersen always gave before making adjustments. However, the victim said the massage didn’t concern her, as the adjustments were easier to perform with relaxed muscles.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more Riley County news.

The post Petersen gave alleged victim “invitation only” card appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

A local chiropractor testified Wednesday morning in Riley County District Court that the files given to him by Clark Petersen did not contain the records for 15 of the clients that say Petersen sexually abused them.

Dr. Mark Hatesohl said he was approached in fall 2024 by Petersen’s attorney at the time, to take possession of Petersen’s patient records after he’d relinquished his chiropractic license. Hatesohl told the jury Petersen delivered the records himself, in five large tubs and with a handwritten list of the files.

Hatesohl explained to the jury that patient records should be kept at least seven to ten years. However, he said when Riley County Police detectives acquired permission to review the alleged victims’ medical records, he was unable to find them.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more local news.

The post Local chiropractor says victims’ records not included in files from Petersen appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

The eighth alleged victim of Clark Petersen testified in Riley County District Court Tuesday morning, saying Petersen “yanked” his hands out of her pants and underwear in 2019 when they heard someone outside the door of Petersen’s treatment room.

Petersen, a former Manhattan chiropractor, is charged with 60 counts of sex crimes, ranging from rape to aggravated sexual battery to aggravated criminal sodomy, against 19 women.

Victim 8 was identified by name in court, but The Mercury doesn’t name victims of sexual crimes. She said she started seeing Petersen in 2008, for treatment of pain and fibromyalgia. She took a pause from chiropractic treatment in 2016 and resumed care again with Petersen in 2018.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more Riley County news.

The post Victim describes Petersen’s actions when he heard noise outside treatment room appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

Expert witnesses testified Friday and Monday in the trial of Clark Petersen, a chiropractor charged with rape and other sex crimes against his clients.

Petersen, a Manhattan man, is now in the second week of his trial in Riley County District Court. He is charged with 64 counts of sex crimes, ranging from rape to aggravated sexual battery to aggravated criminal sodomy, against 19 women. Since the trial’s start, four of those counts have been dismissed by the prosecution.

Matt Gray, a professor of clinical psychology and traumatic stress specialist at the University of Wyoming, on Friday told the jury that most people are not aware of some common characteristics of sexual assault.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more Riley County news.

The post Experts in trial of former local chiropractor testify that it’s common for victims to ‘freeze’ appeared first on News Radio KMAN.

By Rose Gruenbacher

Expert witnesses testified Friday and Monday in the trial of Clark Petersen, a chiropractor charged with rape and other sex crimes against his clients.

Petersen, a Manhattan man, is now in the second week of his trial in Riley County District Court. He is charged with 64 counts of sex crimes, ranging from rape to aggravated sexual battery to aggravated criminal sodomy, against 19 women. Since the trial’s start, four of those counts have been dismissed by the prosecution.

Matt Gray, a professor of clinical psychology and traumatic stress specialist at the University of Wyoming, on Friday told the jury that most people are not aware of some common characteristics of sexual assault.

To view the full article visit theMercury.com.

Click here for more Riley County news.

The post Experts in trial of former local chiropractor testify that it’s common for victims to ‘freeze’ appeared first on News Radio KMAN.