The Daily Advertiser
Former Ascension counselor, accused of sexual misconduct, may seek detention hearing
Tina Marie Macias
A former Ascension Episcopal School counselor accused of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity waived her right to a detention hearing, but will likely ask for it to be rescheduled soon, her attorney said Thursday.
Psychiatrist Dr. Allison Hargrave, 39, is being held in the Iberia Parish Correctional Center.
She was arrested June 2 for federal sex crimes at the Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services, a facility well known for treating sex addiction, among other behavioral problems.
The arrest followed a May 26 indictment in which she was accused of using e-mail to entice a minor to engage in sexual activity.
“We’re currently doing an investigation now,” Hargrave’s attorney Kevin Stockstill said. “We’re exploring the possibility of using expert testimony at the hearing.”
He hopes the detention hearing can be held at the beginning of July.
U.S. attorney Stephanie Finley said the U.S. has asked for Hargrave to be detained on the grounds that she is a danger to the safety of the community.
“It’s relating to a minor child. … It’s our desire to protect all members of the community, especially minor,” she said.
A trial date is set for Aug. 9 in front of U.S. District Judge Richard Haik in Lafayette.
However, Stockstill said he might ask for the trial to be postponed.
“August is pretty busy,” he said, “and I believe that this case is going to be pretty complex and novel.”
He hopes the trial can be rescheduled for the end of the year.
Meanwhile, a civil lawsuit against Hargrave is moving forward.
Hargrave resigned from Ascension Episcopal School in March amid accusations that she had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old female student.
It was not clear if her federal charge stems from the accusations. Finley wouldn’t comment on whether the child Hargrave is said to have enticed attended Ascension.
“That will flesh out when time goes on with the case,” Finley said.
The family of the student sued Hargrave and Ascension Episcopal for damages, including mental and emotional damage, interference with a parent-child relationship, medical expenses, loss of innocence, interference with student’s education and interference with sexual maturation and sexuality.
The lawsuit claims that Hargrave committed the alleged abuse in her scope of employment, which Ascension denied in its answer.
“Defendants specifically aver that any acts of Dr. Allison Hargrave as alleged by plaintiffs, if actually committed, were outside the course and scope of Dr. Hargrave’s employment,” the answer reads. “Defendants specifically deny vicarious liability for any such acts.”
Hargrave, meanwhile, also recently filed an answer to the lawsuit with two exceptions. The lawsuit is called premature and claims that there is “no cause of action and no right of action,” in Hargrave’s answer.
For the rest of the lawsuit Hargrave invoked her rights under the fifth amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and neither confirmed nor denied allegations.
