Therapist accused of sexual assault

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A local physical therapist faces charges after police say he admitted forcing a patient to perform a sex act during a therapy session.

Terrill Jenkerson, of Jenkerson Physical Therapy on W. 38th Street,  was arrested at his South Austin home and is charged with sexual assault, a second-degree felony.

According to court record, Jenkerson, 47, had an appointment with a woman who was seeing him for physical therapy. She was lying on her stomach during the March 20 session when Jenkerson grabbed her hands and put them on his groin, according to records.

"You see what you do to me?" he allegedly said to her.

The victim pulled her hands away, and Jenkerson grabbed them again and forced them back to his groin, police said. He then unzipped his pants, grabbed the victim's head, and forced her to perform oral sex on him as she tried to pull away, police said.

"She was horrified by the whole deal," said Detective Melanie Rodriguez, with the Austin Police Department's sex crime unit. "She was shocked, she was stunned. She left the office and went home to try and figure all of it out."

Police interviewed Jenkerson on July 27 and say he admitted forcing oral sex on the patient and said he knew it was wrong.

"It's highly possible that with the particular type of victim that he seeks out, it's entirely possible that their are people out there who have not come forward because of the fear that they will not be believed," said Det. Rodriguez.

Police encourage anyone who has been assaulted by Jenkerson to call them immedately.

Jenkerson Physical Therapy office is closed. Police say the state licensing board has been notified of the charges against Jenkerson.

A second-degree felony is punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.