Batavia chiropractor Dr. David Hanson, who pleaded guilty to secretly recording patients – including children – undressing, was sentenced to 60 years in prison Tuesday.
Hanson pled guilty to producing and disseminating child sexual abuse material, both Class X felonies, in September. They were just two counts of a 76-count indictment against him, after Kane County prosecutors said he secretly videotaped nearly 200 patients while they undressed in his office and shared those videos online. Some of the victims were as young as three years old.
As a result of the plea, he faced up to 60 years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
The judge sentenced Hanson to the maximum 60 years in prison, with 370 days already served.
The judge was harsh in his assessment of Hanson's crimes as he spoke before handing down his sentence, saying if he could, he would sentence him to far more prison time than was available from his plea deal.
"You have proven time and time and time again, up to 188 times, that you can't walk as a free man," the judge said. "I don't know if you'll ever get out, but frankly I highly doubt if any survivors care if you do/ They know you'll no longer be there in society terrorizing anyone for a long, long time."
Dozens of victims gave impact statements in court at Hanson's sentencing hearing.
Victims told the court they "loved and trusted" Hanson. Many used him as their chiropractor for years, some for a decade or longer. They spoke of being unable to trust the people around them, of the fear they have that videos taken of them nude will be leaked on the internet, and of a deep sense of betrayal when they learned about Hanson's actions.
One victim called him a "wolf in sheep's clothing" and said they hope he never lays eyes on a child again.
Another said she trusted him to treat her when she was a new mother, and said she was "sick to my stomach" when she was informed of his recordings.
One victim, who is now in her early 20s, said she started seeing Dr. Hanson as a teenager and said he followed her on Instagram when she was just 15 through his personal account. She said she wanted to learn from him and shadowed him at work, and that he provided her with free red light therapy that, at the time, she regarded as an act of kindness.
Dr. Hanson told her that red light therapy, the victim told the court, required her to be completely naked and to stretch. When she did, he was secretly recording her.
"I spent years believing healthcare professionals are people I can trust," she told the court. "That trust has been broken. This person who was supposed to teach me is the reason I no longer want to pursue this career."
Some of Hanson's former patients spoke with CBS News Chicago, saying that their trust in people at the medical places has been ruined.
"I just explained how it's hard for me to go to other medical places and trusting doctors and other people I'm supposed to feel safe with. That trust just got ruined," said Riley Dunnett.
"Obviously I'm just glad that he's not going to be walking the streets. We're not going to have to see him, but I think it's going to take a long time for us to heal from and it's something that we're going to remember for the rest of our lives," said Sophia Brummel.
In court, the judge praised prosecutors for their case and the victims who spoke out for their bravery
"I'm so impressed with everyone today," the judge said. "It's not easy maintaining your composure. It's not easy doing what you did today. You have done nothing to be ashamed of. You made decisions for your children the best you could. Everyone is protecting their children."
In court, Hanson had two deputies standing next to him as a preventative measure from any outburst by parents, according to the judge. After sentencing, the judge ordered Hanson taken out of the courtroom.
