Kelly O’Rourke, a licensed clinical social worker in Portland who was arrested on a charge of sexually assaulting a patient, has been indicted by a Cumberland County grand jury on two felony charges, the district attorney’s office said Friday.
O’Rourke, 51, was arrested June 30 on one count of gross sexual assault, under a provision of Maine law that makes it a felony for a psychiatrist or social worker to engage in a sexual relationship with a patient.
The grand jury found there was sufficient evidence to formally charge him with gross sexual assault and violating the conditions of his release, also a felony.
After his arrest, O’Rourke was released July 8 on $1,000 cash bail with the conditions that he wear a GPS monitoring device and have no contact with his alleged victim.
But he was rearrested July 22 for allegedly violating those conditions when he used social media to track the woman’s location in Monument Square, then approached her in her car and hugged her, despite her protestations.
Prosecutors allege that O’Rourke contacted the woman because he believed that she was suicidal and that only he could save her.
Rob Andrews, attorney for O’Rourke, said it was the woman who contacted O’Rourke to tell him her location, and that she left previous voice mail messages for him that undermine her statements.
The victim is 40 and lives in Portland, and has requested not to be identified. Previously she had told the Portland Press Herald that O’Rourke’s actions had ruined her life.
The Press Herald’s policy is not to identify victims of sexual assault without their consent.
O’Rourke was no longer practicing as a therapist at the time of his second arrest. He entered into a consent agreement July 18 with the Maine State Board of Social Worker Licensure to cease practicing while the criminal case against him is pending.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
