Pocono News Section

Ex-Lackawanna Co. Doctor Acquitted of Assault Charges

Ex-Lackawanna Co. Doctor Acquitted of Assault Charges - Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 6:35PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Thursday, Dec 3, 2009 @ 06:35pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- A Lackawanna County doctor has been found not guilty in an assault case.

After a two-day trial, a jury acquitted Dr. John Crews of the most serious charges against him. Dr. Crews is a former doctor at Marian Community Hospital in Carbondale.

He was accused of violently attacking and beating a woman he met online. Thursday afternoon jurors decided there was not enough evidence to convict him.

Dr. John Crews stands outside his lawyer's office a free man after being found "not guilty" of assault. “I have a tremendous amount of faith in the legal justice system. I think the jury saw this was a night that should have never happened," he said.

Dr. Crews was accused of attacking Chataun Porch in the parking lot of the Wizard Car Wash in Scranton in October 2008. Police say he dragged her from a car and attacked her.

The pair had met online. The victim says she was "shocked" by the jury's verdict. “He hit. He kicked and he beat me and I had the bruises to show that. That is the truth. I've always said it. It’s been the truth since day one," said Porch.

Dr. Crews took the stand in his own defense Thursday. He says he wanted to tell jurors he was innocent. “I wanted to express that to the jury so they could see that I was essentially set-up," he said.

Jurors took only one hour to deliver their verdict. Defense Attorney Chris Powell said, “I just don't think the Commonwealth proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt and the jury saw it that way too."

Assistant District Attorney Gene Riccardo said, “I think some of the post-assault actions of the victim, not going immediately to the hospital despite having bruises -- affected their decision."

As for Chataun Porch, she says she wants her story known. “I'm paving the way of just speaking out against domestic violence. No one should have to go through this. It’s been a rough year, the past year," she said.

Dr. Crews was found guilty of one charge - harassment. He was fined $150,000 by the judge.

He now practices medicine at a hospital in Philadelphia.