COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – An employee at a north Columbus eating disorder program is in court Wednesday after being accused of sexual battery of a patient.
According to court documents, 26-year-old Amanda Stetzer is facing felony charges of sexual battery of a patient or inmate and disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. Stetzer is accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a patient at The Emily Program Eating Disorder Outpatient Treatment Center in the Northwoods area near Worthington.
Amanda Stetzer appears for her arraignment hearing in Franklin County Municipal Court. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Municipal Court)
The Emily Program building. (Courtesy Photo/Franklin County Auditor)
Police said that the patient, 17, reported that she was enrolled in The Emily Program in June. When she arrived at the facility, she met Stetzer to fill out paperwork. The victim stated that Stetzer placed her hand on her leg and slapped her rear end when she was in the common bathroom.
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The two allegedly exchanged numbers and the victim said that Stetzer began to give her extra privileges, such as the use of a cell phone and staying up after hours. Stetzer then reportedly would tell the victim to make up reasons to go to a group room after hours so they could be intimate.
The victim stated that the two of them would also go for drives in Stetzer’s car and engage in sex in the back seat. She told police that all encounters lasted for approximately 25 minutes so as to not arouse suspicion from others. The last two encounters occurred on June 20 and June 23, police said.
Court documents said that Stetzer told the victim not to tell anyone, that she has a child, and did not want to lose her job. A LinkedIn profile for Stetzer listed her as a Behavior Health Technician for The Emily Program.
Stetzer also allegedly sent the victim explicit texts and images via social media. Those images were saved, police said.
Stetzer was arrested Tuesday and on Wednesday, a Franklin County Municipal Court judge issued her a $100,000 bond. She is next scheduled to appear in court on July 19 for a preliminary hearing.
