Suspended Psychiatrist Faces Indecent Liberties Charge Eastern State Doctor Pleads Not Guilty To Felony Charge Involving Teenage Girl

A psychiatrist at Eastern State Hospital is accused of trying to force a teenage girl to perform oral sex on him in his car earlier this summer.

Dr. Edwin Johnson, 42, has been on paid suspension from the Medical Lake hospital since July 27, when he was arrested for second-degree attempted rape.

The charge was changed last week to indecent liberties with forcible compulsion, a felony that could send the Texas native to prison for at least 2-1/2 years if convicted.

Johnson has pleaded not guilty.

Superintendent Steve Covington said Johnson has worked for the hospital less than a year. He represented fellow physicians during recent contract negotiations.

Covington declined to comment on the case pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

“We’re confident that when the matter gets fully litigated, Dr. Johnson will be exonerated,” said Johnson’s attorney, Bevan Maxey.He declined to elaborate.

Police reports say Johnson pulled a 17-year-old girl into his car at Riverside and Howard after she had asked him for a quarter to make a telephone call.

While driving up the South Hill, the girl yelled for him to stop. Johnson grabbed her throat and threatened to kill her if she didn’t shut up, police said.

The victim told police Johnson parked his red Lincoln Continental at a grocery store on East 29th and fondled her breasts. He hit her three times on the back of the head and tried to force her to perform oral sex, police said.

She resisted and scratched Johnson’s face, police said. He then let her out of the car and drove away.

The victim called police from the grocery store and gave a description of her attacker and his car. Minutes later, officers stopped Johnson at Riverside and Division. Police noticed a small scratch above his left eye and said the zipper on Johnson’s tan pants was down.

The victim confirmed he was the same man who had assaulted her, police said.

Johnson, 4820 E. 15th, was arrested but released from jail the next day on his own recognizance. While awaiting trial, he must have weekly contact with his attorney and no contact with the victim, according to court records.

A trial has been set for Oct. 23.

Deputy Prosecutor Dawn Cortez said she added the words “with forcible compulsion” to the indecent liberties charge because there was sexual contact but no intercourse.

The distinction makes the felony a more serious charge than indecent liberties alone. The sentencing guideline for the charge mirrors that for attempted rape, she said.

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