Therapist accused of sexual abuse has ‘long history of complaints’ • Iowa Capital Dispatch

A therapist accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old patient is said to have a “long history” of complaints related to his conduct, although there are no public records of any licensing sanctions imposed against him.

On May 30, O’Brien County prosecutors charged therapist Martin W. Wallace, 75, of Sibley, with two felonies: second-degree sexual abuse and sexual exploitation by a therapist. Wallace was also charged with misdemeanor lascivious acts upon a child.

According to police, Wallace had inappropriate contact with a 13-year-old male patient on several occasions at his Sheldon practice – he put a vibrating toothbrush down his pants, kissed the teenager and pulled down his pants and underwear.

Sheldon police also allege that during a search of the office on May 16, Wallace was asked to provide paperwork related to the alleged victim’s care, and police referred him to another set of paperwork related to the alleged victim’s brother. During the search, police say, they left Wallace unattended in a therapy room and then heard the sound of a paper shredder in the room. Officers intervened and asked Wallace what he had just shredded, and he allegedly responded, “I don’t know, it was just a paper from the desk.”

Days later, a former intern at the therapy practice allegedly reported to police recordings stored on a different computer than the one Wallace had given to police. The intern also reported that Wallace used video cameras at the practice – something Wallace allegedly denied during the initial search.

Based on the new information, police conducted a second search of the practice and discovered two cameras, including one that officers described as “a very small, magnetic hidden camera attached to a light in the corner of the patient’s room.”

During the same search, officers asked Wallace for his cell phone, which he allegedly left at home. According to court documents, Wallace then exited the building and approached his vehicle, which was parked outside the office. Police reported seeing Wallace retrieve his cell phone, at which point they confiscated the device, which displayed messages that appeared to be of a sexual nature.

Police records indicate that Wallace has been accused of misconduct in the past, but there is no public record of state licensing officials taking any action against him prior to his arrest.

In a written statement to the court, a Sheldon police officer involved in the investigation claimed he had reviewed an “investigative report” from the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which administers the state’s licensing offices. The report addressed previous complaints about Wallace’s conduct.

“Wallace has a long history of complaints about boundary issues with clients,” Sheldon Police Sgt. Eric Meinecke said in court. “Some notable complaints involved an intern in 2012 who saw a picture of two naked men on Wallace’s work computer at the Creative Living Center; Wallace and a client were seen lying on the floor together in 2017; numerous complaints about Wallace’s communication with clients outside of business hours; and a report of Wallace using hidden cameras at the Creative Living Center without permission.”

Prior to working at the Creative Living Center, Wallace served as a school counselor for the Sibley-Ocheyedan ​​School District for 13 years.

On June 6, a week after charges were filed against Wallace, the Iowa Board of Behavioral Science issued a temporary restraining order revoking Wallace’s license and accusing him of engaging in sexual conduct with a patient.

A hearing on the charges is scheduled for July 30. Wallace recently pleaded not guilty in the criminal case. A trial date has not yet been set.