BECKLEY, W.Va. — The Beckley VA Medical Center has reached a settlement with patients who say a former doctor sexually abused them.
Stephen New, an attorney representing multiple former hospital clients, confirmed to MetroNws 62 former patients of former doctor Jonathan Yates will each receive $180,000. The settlement totals around $10.5 million.
WVVA-TV first reported the story about the settlement.
Yates, of Bluefield, Virginia began working at the facility in April 2018. Investigators launched a criminal investigation in September 2019 following multiple veterans accusing Yates of sexual abuse.
Yates admitted to rubbing the genitals of two veterans and digitally penetrating a third veteran’s rectum without any legitimate medical purpose. All three veterans were seeking care for managing chronic pain.
Yates pleaded guilty to three felony counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. He was sentenced in January to 25 years in prison and three years of supervised release.