Dr. Steven Scranton
aka: Steven Edward Scranton
MICHIGAN MEDICAL BOARD RECORD— 4301043798
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS— License Suspended 2/23/2018, committed suicide 4/28/2018
W. MI doctor arrested for sex crimes involving patients
GRAND RAPIDS TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A doctor is in jail for sex crimes involving patients at a Grand Rapids Township office.
Investigators say they arrested Dr. Steven Scranton after searching his Rockford home Monday. He was charged Wednesday with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion and one count of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving personal injury.
“It can be difficult to even find the words that would appropriately convey how appalling this kind of behavior is,” Kent County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Joel said.
The sheriff’s department says it launched its investigation into Scranton on Nov. 29, 2017, after staff at West Brook Recovery Center, an addiction clinic, notified authorities of “inappropriate conduct” involving the doctor.
Authorities said as their investigation progressed, some patients came forward and accused Scranton of inappropriate sexual conduct.
The sheriff’s office says the victims in the case are women in their mid-20s to late 40s, all of whom were being treated for some form of opioid addiction. Four of the victims saw Scranton in Kent County and two saw him at a clinic in Petoskey.
Roon told 24 Hour News 8 the alleged assaults, all of which happened between January and November of last year, started with inappropriate comments and then escalated to touching.
When asked if Scranton was recording the assaults in any way, Roon replied, “We don’t know yet.”
“The search warrant that was conducted at his residence did yield the seizure of several electronic devices. Those electronics haven’t been searched yet,” he continued.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Andy Hinds at 616.632.6192 or Detective Jason Russo at 616.632.6136.
In a statement, West Brook said it was alerted to Scranton’s alleged misconduct by an employee. It investigated the matter, then terminated Scranton’s contract and rescheduled all of his appointments with patients to other doctors. Scranton is no longer listed as a staff member on West Brook’s website.
West Brook also said it filed a complaint with the state, but when 24 Hour News 8 looked Wednesday at Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs records online, there were no listings of open formal complaints or disciplinary action. LARA told 24 Hour News 8 it is looking into that.
A source told 24 Hour News 8 that Scranton was seeing patients in private practice — not at West Brook — as recently as last week.
Sgt. Roon noted the case comes at a time when there’s heightened awareness due to the highly publicized case of former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. More than 250 girls and women say Nassar sexually abused them under the guise of providing medical treatment. Nassar’s sentencing hearing for sexual assault in Ingham County ran seven days earlier this month and he’s back in court this week for sentencing on related charges out of Eaton County.
“(The Scranton) case has similarities to the Nassar case just because it’s a physician-patient relationship,” Roon said. “The assaults in this case were not done under the guise of medical treatment, so they were not veiled in any way. They were a little more blatant.”
Online jail records show Scranton posted a $15,000 bond and was released Wednesday. He is expected back in court Feb. 21 for a preliminary hearing. (LINK)—1/31/2018
Rockford doctor under investigation has license suspended
LANSING, Mich. – The state of Michigan has suspended the license of a Rockford doctor accused of criminal sexual conduct.
The Kent County Sheriff’s office started investigating allegations of inappropriate contact by Dr. Steven Scranton at the West Brook Recovery Center in late November. He was charged with 2nd and 4th degree criminal sexual conduct in January.
The accusations cover incidents with multiple patients over several years, according to Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
Dr. Scranton had his contract with West Brook terminated when the investigation began in November. (LINK)—2/26/2018
Doctor facing sex charges found dead near his vehicle in Montcalm County
MONTCALM COUNTY, MI – Dr. Steven Edward Scranton, a Grand Rapids area doctor accused of inappropriately touching patients, has been found dead in Montcalm County state game area near his vehicle.
Police say foul play is not suspected and it appears he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The body was found Saturday, April 28.
In a media alert Friday, police said Scranton was reportedly suicidal and left his Cannon Township home on Wednesday, April 25 with a rifle.
Kent County sheriff’s deputies issued a “missing person” alert Friday and asked for help to locate him.
Scranton was out of bond awaiting trial on sex-assault allegations.
He faced one charge of second-degree criminal-sexual conduct, a 15-year felony, and two charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct, a high-court two-year misdemeanor, but was considering a plea deal.
The alleged victims said Scranton touched their breasts while undergoing treatment at Westbrook Recovery Center, which treats drug and alcohol addiction.
Police on Saturday morning received a tip on the possible location of Scranton’s vehicle, a gray 2015 Dodge Ram Longhorn, a four-door truck with an extended cab.
The exact state game area was not stated by police. (LINK)—4/28/2018
Doctor faces continued sexual misconduct claims
Local woman claims doctor groped her, made “inappropriate comments”
TRAVERSE CITY — A doctor who practiced locally killed himself shortly after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced. A local woman claims to be one of his victims.
She and her attorney, Jay Hardin, filed an amended complaint in 13th Circuit Court on Dec. 19 against the estate of Steven Scranton and where he practised.
She said the former doctor attempted to grope and kiss her and made “inappropriate comments” during Traverse City and Petoskey appointments. Court records did not indicate the amount of damages she seeks.
The woman sought Scranton’s help for prescription drug addiction treatment.
“All the while, (the plaintiff) was committed to maintain sobriety, was vulnerable, and assumed that people would believe a physician and would not believe an addict if she made a report,” the complaint reads.
“So she remained silent as she suffered.”
Her allegations join other accusations former patients brought against Scranton, records show.
The Grand Traverse County resident went to West Brook Recovery Center — which maintains offices in Traverse City, Petoskey and Grand Rapids — seeking treatment for drug addiction. Court documents show West Brook officials assigned Scranton, an independent contractor and licensed physician.
He placed the woman on a 12 to 18 month treatment plan using the opioid addiction drug Suboxone. Scranton acted professionally during the first few appointments, but he soon began staring at her body. Handshakes at the end of appointments turned to hugs, according to court records.
At least one more patient brought up similar complaints during the woman’s treatment, but it is unclear where those alleged incidents occurred.
Kent County Sheriff’s Department investigators began looking into criminal sexual conduct complaints involving Scranton in November 2017. Deputies arrested Scranton Jan. 29, 2018 at his Rockford home. Prosecutors filed one second degree CSC charge and two fourth degree CSC charges against him Jan. 30, according to reports.
Scranton posted bond and was set to go to trial before he disappeared April 25. Deputies said he left his home with a rifle. He was found dead in Montcalm County April 28, according to reports.
Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg had not heard of any further complaints involving Scranton.
Jay Hardin, the woman’s attorney, declined comment. Kevin Lesperance and Susan Ramage, attorneys representing West Brook, did not return calls for comment. John O’Loughlin represents Scranton’s estate. He declined to comment on the ongoing litigation.
West Brook officials claimed any injuries or damages resulted, not because of West Brook, but because of “persons other than defendant for which defendant had no legal responsibility and/or control,” according to court records. They also denied Scranton acted as a West Brook employee when the “alleged behavior” occurred.
Court documents show West Brook officials denied having knowledge of the “unwanted touching” and other allegations of sexual abuse, according to court files. They asked judges to throw out the suit on numerous claims, including that the allegations fall outside of the two-year medical malpractice statute of limitations.
The next scheduled court hearings for the case include a settlement conference on July 2, followed by a jury trial starting July 29. (LINK)—1/27/2019
