FLINT – Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said a jury convicted a local hypnotherapist of criminal sexual assault related to multiple assaults on female patients under his care at his Grand Blanc office.
John Gary Tomlinson, 73, is convicted of criminal sexual conduct first degree, five counts of criminal sexual conduct second degree, and one count of unlawful imprisonment related to incidents that occurred at his Grand Blanc Township therapy office between 2013 and 2017.
John Potbury, deputy chief assistant prosecutor stated: “As to the charge of unlawful imprisonment, when the first reporting victim came forward, she told police that when she started to come out of a state of hypnosis, she began to realize what Tomlinson was doing…. She struggled past him to leave the room, but Tomlinson held the door shut for a period of time so that she could not leave.”
According to testimony at trial, Grand Blanc Township police officers were dispatched to Tomlinson’s hypnotherapy office on Holly Road in April 2017 after a patient Tomlinson was treating reported that Tomlinson had sexually assaulted her while she was undergoing her fourth hypnotherapy session. After Leyton issued charges following the first complaint, the police investigation and media publicity brought forth other victims.
During the trial, victims testified they were under various states of mental incapacity while undergoing hypnotherapy when the assaults occurred. Three women were named victims in the trial but authorities received complaints from many more with some allegations going as far back as 2007.
“John Tomlinson’s actions are reprehensible,” said Leyton after the verdict was read.
Leyton added: “He violated the most basic and sacred trust of women who came to him to treat various
ailments and he used that trust and his position to satisfy his own desires.
“I want to acknowledge the hard work of my staff including the lead assistant prosecutor Jonathan Poulos and support staff, victim advocates and others who brought this case to a successful adjudication and obtained justice in a court of law for the many victims involved.”
Tomlinson faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced on September 30.
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