Former mental health worker sentenced on sex charges

A former mental health worker has been sentenced to 18 months in state prison after being found guilty of criminal sexual penetration for engaging in sex with a patient, Ninth Judicial District Attorney, Quentin Ray, announced in a news release.

Jon Perry, age 53, of Roswell, received the sentence Thursday after being found guilty by a Roosevelt County jury of Criminal Sexual Penetration a 3rd degree felony,on June 14, the news rlease reported.

According to the news release:

• Charged were filed against Perry, who was once state licensed as a physician assistant, when law enforcement became aware that he had made sexual advances on a patient who had been receiving mental health treatment at the Eastern New Mexico Sunrise Mental Health Center in Roswell.

• The patient was under was under Perry's care. Perry continued to manipulate the victim over the course of several months. In September of 2020, Perry traveled to Portales, NM and had sex with the woman at her work.

• The New Mexico State Police, Roswell Police Department and Portales Police Department investigated the case.

• New Mexico law prohibits a provider of psychotherapy from having sexual relations with a current patient or a person who has been a patient during the prior year,

• Ninth Judicial District Judge Donna Mowrer sentenced Perry to no less than five years and up to life on parole and required him to register as a sex offender in addition to the 18 months in the Department of Corrections.

• The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney, Brian Scott Stover. Perry was represented by Criminal Defense Attorney.

Attempts to reach Christenson on Tuesday were unsuccessful.