Sexual misconduct forces question: Rehabilitate or revoke?
The Montana chiropractic board has revoked the license of Reese Riggin for 10 years after two former female employees testified Riggin sexually assaulted them from March 2009 to 2011. The assaults occurred while Riggin conducted chiropractic treatment on the two women, which he required as part of obligations of their employment.
Riggin has a history of inappropriate sexual conduct. In 1997, Riggin lost his chiropractic license in Idaho over allegations by three complainants of inappropriate touching. After later pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of sexual exploitation by a medical care provider Riggin was sentenced to 10 days in jail, a $750 fine, along with two years of probation.
Riggin would apply for a chiropractic license in 2001 in Washington state, but was denied. Also, in 2001, the Montana Board of Chiropractors denied his application to sit for the chiropractic examination.
Riggin completed the terms of his probation in August 2006 and applied to reinstate his license in Idaho that September, but Idaho rejected his application as well, stating they did not have enough evidence to deem Riggin rehabilitated.
In February 2008, the Montana board issued Riggin a probationary license, requiring him to be supervised for no less than a year and to have another individual in the room when he was conducting chiropractic treatment to female patients.
Shortly after the one-year supervision requirement, Riggin allegedly began engaging in inappropriate touching of former employees once again. Thus, the Board felt it appropriate to revoke Riggin’s license for 10 years, after which he would be allowed to seek reinstatement.
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