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Atlanta VA Medical Center. (FOX5)

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – A primary care doctor at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Decatur has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a female patient under his care.

After an eight-day trial, the jury found Dr. Rajesh Motibhai found Patel guilty of violating the patient’s constitutional right to bodily integrity by acting unlawfully and engaging in unwanted sexual intercourse.

Patel was charged in 2023 after authorities said he groped and inappropriately touched four female patients between 2019 and 2020.

“Dr. Patel violated the cardinal rule that a physician should not harm patients in his care,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “The veterans who consulted him for treatment, like the victim in this case, trusted Dr. Patel, and he violated that trust. We hope his conviction will provide some measure of healing for those affected by his crimes.”

The jury acquitted Patel of charges related to three victims, but found him guilty of charges connected to the fourth.

“The decision is an important step in the pursuit of justice for a sexual assault committed against a veteran seeking treatment at a VA medical center,” said Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael J. Missal. “VA employees are charged with keeping our nation’s veterans safe while they receive care. Acts of violence against veterans at VA facilities are reprehensible and undermine trust. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable anyone who would commit these crimes.”

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In a statement Military.com, After the department learned of the allegations, Patel was removed from patient care and reassigned to a role that required no interaction with patients, the VA said.

“These alleged actions are egregious and unacceptable. We take this matter extremely seriously and have been cooperating with law enforcement since these concerns were raised,” VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said in a statement. he said. “We will provide every affected veteran with the care and support they need and will continue to cooperate fully with the investigation.”

The Lilburn man is scheduled to be sentenced by a federal judge on February 20, 2025.