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Teen speaks out after accusing Farmington doctor of assault

Posted at 7:26 PM, Dec 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-05 19:27:56-05

The teen who says she was assaulted by a doctor is speaking out on 7 Action News.

Dr. Eliezer Monge, a physician with an office in downtown Farmington, is charged with assault and battery for what allegedly happened when the 18-year-old went to him complaining of abdominal pain.

The teen said in hindsight, things weren’t quite right at her first visit.

“He gave me a full physical exam, which I thought was unusual, but I went with it because I am not a doctor. I didn’t know,” said Sammi Steen.

When she continued to experience health problems, she returned for a second appointment.  It was during this appointment that she says the doctor crossed a clear line.

As he examined her abdomen he pulled the blanket down, exposing her. He allegedly made innappropriate comments and touched her.  When she sat up on the exam table, he leaned in to kiss her.

“The only thing that I even thought to do was turn away, and he open-mouth kissed my neck,” said Steen.

She says he gave her a prescription for Zanax, a controlled substance she did not want.

Monge denied the claims to investigators, but after taking a DNA sample from Monge and the victim's neck, the Michigan State Police crime lab confirmed they matched.

"This was saliva DNA from her neck that matched his, so we are very confident in our case,” said Farmington Public Safety Director Frank Demers.

Dr. Monge’s defense attorney Raymond Cassar says his client denies doing anything inappropriate or criminal.  He has never been accused of a crime in more than 50 years in practice.

Monge was arraigned on the misdemeanor charge Friday and was given a $2,500 personal bond.

Skeen says she decided to share her story because she wants to fight the stigma associated with sexual assault. She felt it. She was afraid she would be accused of lying.

She and police say that due to the boldness of the doctor’s actions they suspect there are other victims out there.  Police are hoping that if they exist, they come forward.

“He misjudged me,” said Skeen. “He thought I was a teenager who wanted a medication. I want him to know i am so much stronger than him and he is a coward for what he has done to me and others."