POPULAR SMC INSTRUCTOR FACING FELONY CHARGES INCLUDING CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT

  A former Southwestern Michigan College instructor was arraigned last week in Cass District Court. He is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 20-year-old female student who also went to him for counseling in his private practice.
George Frederick Field, 57, of Michigan 51 South in Dowagiac, was arraigned in Cass County District Court on five felony charges including first-degree criminal sexual conduct during the commission of a felony and practicing psychology/counseling without a license.
Field demanded a preliminary hearing on one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC), one count of second-degree CSC, two counts of fourth-degree CSC and one count of practicing psychology/counseling without a license.
His next court dates are Oct. 5 for a pre-exam conference and Oct. 11 for a preliminary hearing. Field’s bond was set at $200,000 cash or surety and he can not have any contact with the alleged victim.
First-degree CSC carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, while second-degree CSC carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. The practicing without a license charge is four-year felony while the fourth-degree CSC charge is a two-year felony.
Field is alleged to have engaged in sexual penetration and contact with a 20-year-old female who had been both his student and his client in his counseling practice. The incidents allegedly occurred between September 2015 and June 2016 at “The Family Center” in Dowagiac and Field’s home next to the center.
SMC President David Mathews said the alleged victim who is no longer a student at the college reported a concern about Field just a few weeks ago. The college immediately opened an investigation and urged her to contact the sheriff’s department.
Mathews said the college’s internal investigation concluded early last week at which time Field was fired. Field’s arraignment the week before on a marijuana charge did not factor into the termination decision, he said.
“Unfortunately he was a very popular instructor and got great reviews from students,” Mathews said. “We had no reason to suspect anything … He was an adjunct professor for three years and was voted the adjunct faculty of the year by students. We then hired him as a full-time instructor two years ago. There was absolutely nothing to indicate this.”
Mathews noted that while Field is charged with practicing without a counseling license at the Family Center in Dowagiac, there is no question of his teaching credentials which includes a master’s degree in psychology.
Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz said the incident came to light after SMC officials became aware of the situation and encouraged the alleged victim to contact law enforcement. The young woman contacted the Cass County Sheriff’s Department which then investigated the matter and recommended charges to the prosecutor’s office.
“This involved the grooming of a naïve 20 year old girl,” Fitz said. “He was well aware that she was naïve and having problems. He knew her secrets and concerns and took advantage of that. At the family clinic, he left his desk and went to sit next to her. There was kissing and touching and then he got her to retire to the house next to the clinic.”
Fitz noted that the investigation has also uncovered evidence of other possible victims and urged anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s department. “Emails were found on his computer showing other SMC students had sent explicit photographs to him,” he said.
Field also faces a separate possession of marijuana charge stemming from marijuana found in his home during a police search related to the CSC investigation. He was arraigned on the marijuana charge last week.