PLATTE COUNTY —A physician in Platte City was sentenced to 27 years in prison for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl, according to Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.
Dr. Jonathan Philippe, 43, received the sentence 21 after being found guilty by a jury in February of multiple counts related to his abuse of the girl.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd said, "This sentence sends the message that, regardless of one's station in life, child sexual abuse will be severely punished in Platte County. No one is above the law--particularly when a child is abused."
At trial, prosecutors proved that Philippe began sexually abusing a young girl who was not a patient or family member in early 2020. She disclosed the abuse to another adult, who then reported it to the Platte County Sheriff’s Department.
Philippe testified during the trial, and his criminal defense lawyer spent much time asking about his medical practice. At sentencing, he referred to his status as a physician, spoke at length about making hundreds of thousands of dollars every year, and criticized the jury for its verdict.
Zahnd said, “Doctors are usually among the most respected people in any community, especially in relatively small cities like Platte City. To this doctor's dismay, the jury saw him for what he was: a dangerous man who preyed on a young child."
The jury recommended sentences of 10 years on two counts of statutory sodomy, seven years for attempted enticement and three years for child molestation. With the exception of ordering the enticement and molestation counts to run concurrently, the court ran all of the counts consecutively, as required by Missouri law, resulting in the 27-year sentence. Phillippe must serve 85% of much of his sentence, meaning he will not be eligible for parole until sometime in the 2040s.
The case was investigated by the Platte County Sheriff’s Department. The victim was treated at Children’s Mercy Hospital and completed a child forensic interview at Synergy Services. The case was tried by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Myles Perry and First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Mark Gibson.
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