The lawyer for a Ligonier psychologist told Westmoreland County jurors on Tuesday that the prevalence of sexual assault allegations around the country has become too much and in some cases cannot be properly defended.
“In today’s world, if they say it happened, it happened. It could happen to any of us, guys,” defense attorney Pat Thomassey said in his opening statement in the sexual assault trial of Dr. Roy C. Monsour.
Monsour, 65, is on trial on three charges, including the alleged sexual assault of a teen girl, corruption of minors and child endangerment.
Thomassey told jurors the allegations against Monsour are a lie, made up by a now 14-year-old accuser. The Tribune-Review does not identify alleged victims of sexual assaults.
During his brief address to the jury, Thomassey was defiant in talking about the personal circumstances that led to the allegations and the difficulties defendants have in fighting the charges.
Thomassey told jurors that he will no longer meet behind closed doors with female clients because of the possibility that any disagreement could lead to unfounded accusations and a successful prosecution that requires jurors only needing to believe an alleged victim for a conviction.
As part of his defense, Thomassey lamented the manner in which people must now relate to one another.
“You can’t touch anybody today,” Thomassey said.
The case against Monsour involves allegations from a now teenage girl who contends she was molested multiple times between 2009 and 2014 as they sat together and watched television.
Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Calisti said Monsour’s accuser claims he would put his hand on her thigh, move it up her leg and rub her genital area.
“It happened a couple of times a week. It would happen a lot,” Calisti told jurors.
Monsour, a son of a prominent group of four brothers who founded the now defunct Monsour Medical Center in Jeannette, worked as a geriatric psychologist until his arrest in 2017. His medical license is currently under suspension.
Thomassey said there is no proof of Monsour’s guilt.
“He is one of the finest doctors in Pennsylvania and practiced over 40 years. He is not a pervert. He did not molest anybody,” Thomassey said.
The trial will continue Wednesday before Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio.
