Counselor avoids prison, but career ends

Canton Respository

CANTON — A mental-health counselor who had sexual contact with a patient avoided prison Monday, but his career is over.

Eugene A. Altomare said he felt a “tremendous amount of remorse” for the victim, her relatives and his family, before a Stark County judge placed him on probation for four years.

Altomare, 57, of Lisbon, must register as a sex offender for 25 years and continue with sex-offender counseling. If he doesn’t follow the rules, Judge Richard D. Reinbold Jr. can send him to prison for three years.

Altomare pleaded guilty in August to sexual battery. He has already surrendered his professional license.

Earlier this year, Altomare engaged in sexual conduct with a patient from Heartland Behavioral Healthcare in Massillon. Altomare didn’t work for the hospital, but he had treated the woman for several years, court papers show.

Part of Altomare’s job was supervising the woman during trips away from the hospital. Twice they ended up at the Red Roof Inn in Jackson Township.

County prosecutors have said there was no indication that Altomare forced or coerced the woman to engage in sex, but she thought her actions would lead him to write favorable reports. Altomare denied promising the woman special favors in return for sex.