Nurse Imprisoned After Engaging in Sexual Relationship with Patient and Falsely Accusing Him of Assault

A nurse has been incarcerated after engaging in sexual relations with a patient and then wrongly accused him of sexually assaulting her.

Melissa Knutson was declared guilty of misconduct in a public office and obstructing an official investigation after her inappropriate conduct with the patient during her employment with the Monroe County Drug Court in 2022.

Authorities were alerted to her actions, at which point Knutson first claimed the patient had sexually assaulted her, according to prosecutors.

Knutson, who was responsible for administering the substance abuse medication Vivitrol to the patient, tried to argue that she kept silent about the alleged assault due to fears of retribution towards herself or her family.

However, evidence from text messages later disclosed that Knutson had initiated the relationship and had pledged to deny everything if they were discovered, as per the prosecutors' statements.

Eventually, she confessed to fabricating the allegation to escape repercussions.

District Attorney Kevin Croninger remarked, "The harm caused by Ms. Knutson was deep and significant. Not only did she betray the trust placed in her as a nurse, but she further exacerbated the situation by falsely alleging that the patient committed sexual assault."

He added, "This case is particularly horrifying as the patient was under the supervision of the drug court."

Knutson has been sentenced to 18 months in prison and an additional two years of extended supervision.