One-time Emporia chiropractor Eric Hawkins heard his verdicts after a week-long trial on rape and aggravated sexual battery counts Friday:
The 12-person jury took about 5.5 hours Thursday afternoon through Friday morning to reach a unanimous verdict.
Hawkins was accused of rape in the case of a then-16-year-old girl from 2015 after the girl accused him of touching her crotch during treatment for a groin injury. Hawkins denied the contact and the accuser also went back for treatment after the alleged incident.
Hawkins was also charged with aggravated sexual battery in the case of a then-22-year-old woman last year. The woman accused him of skin-to-skin contact under her leggings during a back injury treatment early last year. Hawkins denied any inappropriate contact, saying skin-to-skin contact was allowed in certain cases and also saying he “got complacent” when he failed to ask for consent before proceeding.
Hawkins is set to have a related trial begin Monday. He’s accused of sexual battery against a then-32-year-old woman from an alleged incident in 2015.
