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Posted on Tue, Oct 12, 2010 : 5:07 p.m.

Former Ann Arbor acupuncturist convicted of sexually assaulting patient sentenced to 5-15 years in prison

By Lee Higgins

A former Ann Arbor acupuncturist who skipped his sentencing 11 years ago after being convicted of sexually assaulting a female patient was sentenced today to a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Shouyu Chen, 66, of Hong Kong, who was convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct involving force or coercion, declined to say anything in court prior to being sentenced by Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Donald Shelton.

Chen was arrested in July after traveling to the western Pacific island of Guam, which is a U.S. territory. He is awaiting trial on an absconding charge.

The victim in the sexual assault case said in court that she turned to Chen for acupuncture treatments after hurting her back 12 years ago. She hoped the treatments would help her with fertility problems, she said.

"I thought it was God's plan to lead me to him to help me have a family," she said.

Instead, she said, it was a nightmare that will play through her mind for the rest of her life. Until Chen admits wrongdoing and takes responsibility for his actions, she said, he won't be rehabilitated and will continue to hurt others.

AnnArbor.com generally does not identify victims of sexual assault.

The woman was 39 when Chen sexually assaulted her during one of her treatments at BC Health Center on Packard Road in August 1998, court records show. He kissed her and made sexual comments during the assault, records say.

A jury convicted Chen in March 1999, but he never showed up for sentencing four months later, documents show. Chen is originally from China.

It's unclear what he's been doing since he skipped his sentencing. Two Ann Arbor police detectives traveled to Guam and brought Chen back to Michigan on Aug. 6.

After Chen serves the sentence in the sexual assault case and the absconding case is resolved, he is expected to be deported from the United States.

Shelton ordered Chen pay more than $12,000 in restitution to cover wages for the two Ann Arbor police detectives, their flights to Guam and back, lodging there and Chen's flight to the United States.

Chen is expected to return to court Jan. 4 for a pretrial hearing on the absconding charge.

Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.

Comments

RoboLogic

Wed, Oct 13, 2010 : 9:36 a.m.

IMO... he would be denied bond because as he has demonstrated he is a flight risk. Would you give him bond after he fled the country once?

DFSmith

Tue, Oct 12, 2010 : 6:37 p.m.

is the convicted person out on bail, or is he still in custody? The story isnt clear about this point.