Former University of Michigan doctor sentenced to probation for illegally accessing computers
A former resident physician in the University of Michigan Health System's Department of Pathology was sentenced today to two years of probation for illegally accessing health system computers in 2009 to boost his performance evaluations.
Eric George Batterson, 34, of Scio Township, told Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Melinda Morris he was very sorry, assuring her it would never happen again.
"I made some really poor decisions, which are sort of uncharacteristic with the way I lived my life throughout college and graduate and medical school," he said. "I wish I could take it back."
Batterson pleaded no contest on Nov. 24 to unauthorized access of a computer and using a computer to commit a crime, court records show.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed to dismiss eight counts each of unauthorized access of a computer and using a computer to commit a crime and one count of possessing a Taser, records show.
University of Michigan police say Batterson installed software on computers that records keystrokes, allowing him to obtain passwords to access other computers and colleagues' e-mail accounts.
According to police, Batterson used that access to boost his performance evaluations, while negatively altering those of his colleagues.
As a result of the conviction, Batterson is prohibited from obtaining a license to practice medicine, his attorney, Christopher Andreoff, said in court.
At the time of the crimes in March and April of 2009, Batterson was struggling with depression and had broken up with his girlfriend, Andreoff said. Batterson has more than $200,000 in student loans, Andreoff said.
"It's an absolute nightmare for him," Andreoff said. "It's destroyed his life."
Judge Morris ordered Batterson to pay more than $9,300 in restitution. She told him his biggest victim was himself.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and e-mail at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
loves_fall
Wed, Jan 12, 2011 : 10:15 a.m.
I guess this is further evidence that if you're a professional white male, you can still get away with almost anything -- at least the first time. The reassuring thing here is that this guy's faking appears to extend beyond his behavior at UMHS (if you google him and read the reviews, you'll notice that someone has also posted positive reviews on his behalf, including one "patient" who comments on the excellent autopsy he did -- I wonder who wrote that?), and his ego seems to be greater than his actual ability. I suspect if he doesn't learn from this he'll be caught again, and maybe then there will be some actual consequences.
Lady Audrey
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 9:35 a.m.
Having struggled with depression and having some very hard times in my life, both with my family and finances, never once did I think it could be an excuse to engage in the attempted destruction of the reputation of others to the benefit of my own reputation. I find it hard to believe that this is a one-off behavior as we learn about respect, honesty and integrity from an early age. I think the biggest regret is that he got caught.
15crown00
Tue, Jan 11, 2011 : 1 a.m.
Hey Androff it didn't destroy his life.He destroyed His Life. This loser belongs in jail which is where us common folk would be if we did what he did.
Tom Joad
Mon, Jan 10, 2011 : 6:20 p.m.
Thankfully he won't be practicing medicine. Good luck paying off your loans, doc.
average joe
Mon, Jan 10, 2011 : 6:10 p.m.
So the fellow who found out about his wife's affair by accessing her email account by way of her leaving her passwords laying around could get a 5 year prison sentence, but this dr(??) went through quite a few hoops individually to obtain passwords of many people for the sole purpose of promoting himself in the MEDICAL field gets 2 years probation.