Spokane VA begins firing process for employee accused of sexually assaulting child

The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center has begun the termination process for an employee charged with the sexual assault of a child in Montana.

Frank D. Paulsen, an employee in the surgical department who identified himself as a hospital administrator in a 2016 Spokesman-Review article, was arrested last week and had his first appearance Friday in Spokane. KXLY reported Tuesday that court records show Paulsen is charged with two counts of felony sexual assault.

Spokane VA spokesman Bret Bowers confirmed Tuesday that Paulsen was charged in a Montana criminal case, and said Wednesday that his behavior did not align with the organization’s values.

“The VA has made clear that it will hold employees accountable when they fail to live up to the high standards taxpayers expect from us,” Bowers said.

According to the court documents, an adult reported being sexually assaulted by Paulsen in 2002 in Montana, when the alleged victim was 6 years old. He is accused of kissing and touching a child, as well as other sexually explicit behavior, according to reports by KXLY.

KXLY reported that Paulsen was ordered to not contact the alleged victim and is scheduled to appear in a Montana court next week.

In February 2016, another Spokane VA employee, former emergency room doctor Craig Morgenstern, was convicted of 35 counts of sexual abuse and child porn charges. He was sentenced to 12 life terms in prison.

Reporters Thomas Clouse and Rebecca White contributed to this report.