Obstetrician/gynecologist Dr. Paul Becton of Paragould, who was arrested a year ago by State Police after a patient alleged he took a cellphone picture of her during an examination without her consent, has been sentenced to 36 months on four charges of video voyeurism, a Class D felony. The four sentences are to run concurrently.
Becton, 69, who operated the Becton Women’s Clinic in Paragould, entered his guilty plea this morning in Greene County Circuit Court. He was ordered to register as a sex offender.
A news release issued by 2nd District Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ellington (full version on the jump) said, “The patient became suspicious after the examination that she may have been photographed and reported her concern to the Paragould Police Department. Paragould police requested assistance from the Arkansas State Police, which took over the investigation and executed a search warrant finding evidence on Becton’s iPhone corroborating the patient’s complaint. Greene County District Judge Dan Stidham subsequently issued warrants for Becton’s arrest. Stidham ordered a $500,000 bond after the doctor was discovered in a Newport, Arkansas hotel, approximately sixty-five miles from Paragould, on April 16, 2014 by Arkansas State Police investigators tracking his cell phone signal.”
The other charges were filed based on what was found on Becton’s phone.
Becton grew up in Little Rock and played football for Hall High School before attending Baylor University on a football scholarship. He played pro ball briefly.
FORMER PARAGOULD OBGYN DR. PAUL BECTON SENTENCED TO PRISON
PARAGOULD, Ark. – Scott Ellington, District Prosecuting Attorney for the Second Judicial District of Arkansas, announces today the thirty–six month prison sentence of Dr. Paul Becton, a former Paragould OBGYN, on charges of video voyeurism involving former female patients of his at the Becton Women’s Clinic in Paragould.
Ellington said that Becton, age 69, will serve the sentence in the Arkansas Department of Corrections after entering guilty pleas Wednesday morning before Circuit Judge Barbara Halsey in Greene County Circuit Court. Becton was ordered to register as a sex offender following his release from prison and fulfill all requirements under the Sex Offender Registration Act.
The prosecutor said that the victims approved of Becton’s sentence to avoid having to share their stories in open court.
“Dr. Becton will never practice medicine again and will be under law enforcement supervision as a registered sex offender for the rest of his life,” Ellington said. “We are satisfied that justice has been obtained for our community.”
Ellington commended the Arkansas State Police and Paragould Police Department criminal investigators for their diligent efforts in the Becton case.
“In each and every case they investigate, these officers leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice for victims of crime,” Ellington said. “Their efforts in this in the investigation of this matter were certainly no different.”
Ellington credited Greene County Deputy Prosecutors Robert F. Thompson, Adam Butler, and Kimberly Dale for their hard work on the investigation and resolution of the case.
History of the case:
On April 15, 2014, Ellington authorized the Arkansas State Police to seek a warrant for Becton’s arrest on allegations by a female patient that the doctor took nude photographs of her with his cell phone during an examination without her consent, permission, or approval. The patient became suspicious after the examination that she may have been photographed and reported her concern to the Paragould Police Department. Paragould police requested assistance from the Arkansas State Police, which took over the investigation and executed a search warrant finding evidence on Becton’s iPhone corroborating the patient’s complaint.
Greene County District Judge Dan Stidham subsequently issued warrants for Becton’s arrest. Stidham ordered a $500,000 bond after the doctor was discovered in a Newport, Arkansas hotel, approximately sixty-five miles from Paragould, on April 16, 2014 by Arkansas State Police investigators tracking his cell phone signal.
As a physician, Becton specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, and he formerly maintained the Becton Women’s Clinic, a private OBGYN practice in Paragould, prior to his arrest.