Pomfrey found in contempt of court

A former Fairfield psychologist has been ordered to stay at a residential treatment facility after violating his probation.

Patrick Pomfrey, 64, was found to be in contempt of court during a probation revocation hearing June 17. The judge ordered him to stay at a residential treatment facility for one year, or until his supervisors determined he had completed their treatment requirements.

Jefferson County Attorney Chauncey Moulding said a residential treatment facility is more colloquially known as a 'half-way house,” a place whose controls on its residents are half-way between the confines of a prison and the freedom of an apartment building.

Though Pomfrey was found to be in contempt of court, his probation was not technically revoked. Part of the agreement between Pomfrey and the prosecution was that Pomfrey would admit to the allegations that he violated his probation, but that his probation would continue after serving time in the residential treatment facility.

Since June 17, Pomfrey has been staying in the Jefferson County Jail, waiting for a spot to open at one of the two residential treatment centers in the Eighth Judicial District. The two centers are in Ottumwa and Burlington. Moulding said it's common to wait more than a month for a spot to become available.

According to a report filed by his probation officer, Pomfrey violated his probation by consuming alcohol on five occasions from the time he was placed on probation in early November until the most recent incident on May 5. That day, a probation officer visited Pomfrey's home and gave him a blood alcohol test, which came back at .23. The report indicates that Pomfrey told the probation officer he had consumed five beers.

A few weeks earlier on April 18, officers visited Pomfrey and found his blood alcohol content was .143. He told officers he had drunk three beers.

The probation officer's report alleging Pomfrey violated the terms of his probation includes six instances of Pomfrey failing to attend his required SIEDA Substance Abuse appointments.

Pomfrey was placed on probation Nov. 1 when Judge Greg Milani accepted his guilty plea to the crime of sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist. Pomfrey had also pleaded guilty to tampering with a witness, an aggravated misdemeanor, and practicing without a license, a serious misdemeanor. He was given a five-year suspended sentence, meaning he would not have to serve jail time if he adhered to the terms of his probation.