Former VA Doctor Pleads Guilty To Tampering With A Witness

A Muskogee psychiatrist pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday, August 23, after prosecutors say he admitted to having a sexual relationship with a patient he was treating at the VA hospital, then getting her to lie to federal investigators.

Stephen Lester Greer pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness. 

Prosecutors say Greer had sex with one of his patients. They say the relationship started in 2015 and lasted a year. Greer kept treating the army veteran during that time, and she even became pregnant, according to court records.

They say she woman would go to her appointments with Greer, then they would go to motels around Muskogee to have sex. When the investigation began, court documents state Greer told the woman to lie and even told her they needed to throw away their phones so investigators couldn't read their text messages.

Federal prosecutors say even if the relationship was consensual, this veteran was a victim because she was under a doctor's care.

"She is a patient of that doctor. There are certain boundaries that doctor has to maintain, and he violated that," said Acting United States Attorney Douglas A. Horn.  

The statutory range of punishment for tampering with a witness, victim or informant is up to 20 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Greer was released on a $10,000 bond, a news release states.

Prosecutors say someone entrusted to care for patients should not violate that trust.

When the VA found out about the relationship, they immediately removed him from patient care and reported him to law enforcement.