Psychologist's trial to begin on Tuesday

As seen in the South Bend Tribune

Associates in Clinical Psychology was supposed to be a safe place, where troubled teens could receive treatment for mental illness.

But prosecutors allege that the group home was the scene of improper physical examinations performed on patients, by a man who was not licensed to perform them.

On Tuesday, a jury in Marshall Superior Court will begin hearing the case leveled against psychologist Marc A. Zackheim, who is facing one Class C felony count of practicing medicine without a license and three Class B misdemeanor counts of battery for a series of incidents that reportedly took place at the home in 2004.

According to court documents, Zackheim, who is now 55, was running the home at 317 W. Monroe St. when he allegedly conducted a series of physical examinations on teen boys who were patients at the home.

During those examinations, police said, Zackheim touched the boys' genitalia while claiming to be checking for medical conditions, such as bloating and hernias.

However, as a psychologist, Zackheim was not licensed to perform any physical exams, according to authorities. Police were reportedly alerted to the incidents after the Fulton County Division of Family and Children contacted police in July 2004 with concerns about the home.

Zackheim, who lives in Lake Bluffton, Ill., was arrested and charged in October 2004 in conjunction with the allegations. He has been free on bond since shortly after being charged.

He also agreed to an indefinite suspension of his license to practice psychology after he was charged, court documents show.

Jury selection for the trial will begin Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the Marshall County Courthouse.