Osage County Dentist Pleads No Contest To Practicing Medicine Without License

Editor's note:  The News On 6 initially reported that David Menna pleaded no contest to a molestation charge, but he actually pleaded no contest only to practicing medicine without a license.

By Chris Wright, The News On 6

OSAGE COUNTY -- A dentist pleaded no contest to charges he practiced medicine without a license and charges that he molested an 11-year-old boy during a wilderness outing were dropped Monday. 

A judge gave 54-year-old David Menna a two-year deferred sentence after the victim and his family addressed Menna in an Osage County courtroom.

Menna was charged with lewd molestation and practicing medicine without a license after allegedly touching a child inappropriately in 2007. 

An attorney involved in the case says Menna does have a degree in dentistry, but is not a licensed and practicing dentist or doctor.

12/6/2007 Related story: Alleged Fake Doctor Charged With Molesting Child

Authorities say the dentist posed as a doctor during the wilderness trip. 

Menna's sentence also bars him from any future contact with children's groups.

"I don't ever count wins or losses, I just try to do what's right for the victims. If the victims are satisfied with it, then I'm satisfied with it," said Jeff Jones, Osage County Assistant District Attorney.

The victim's parents did not want to go on camera for fear of identifying their child.  They've also sued the Young Marines and Boy Scouts. They did say they would have liked to see Menna receive a harsher punishment, but did not want to put their child through the ordeal of a jury trial. 

An attorney for the Young Marines organization emphasizes that Menna was not a volunteer for the organization and it insists it has no association with him.

2/10/2010 Related story: Family Sues Osage Co. Man, Boy Scouts Over Alleged Molestation

The victim, now 13, did get a chance to speak directly to Menna in the courtroom.

"What the child said, what the minor said, putting one predator away is going to save countless children," said Pam Girouard, victim's advocate.

Girouard says these cases are often tough to prosecute, but believes the family did the right thing by coming forward.

"In this case, with this particular offender, if someone's had contact with him in the past and you questioned whether that was ok or not, maybe it wasn't and go to law enforcement," said Girouard.

Menna's lawyer did not want to go on camera, but says this is a good plea deal that both sides agreed to.