WATERTOWN, S.D.(KWAT)–A Watertown man who is a licensed psychologist is facing felony charges related to alleged sexual contact with a person he’d been counseling.

Watertown police say 46 year-old Shane Michael Larson was arrested Wednesday.

He’s charged with three counts of Sexual Penetration by a Psychotherapist, and a lesser count of Hiring for Sexual Activity.

Larson has been a counselor at Compass Counseling in Watertown.  His LinkedIn page says he has a, “professional passion for helping sexual offenders live a good and productive life, while helping communities remain safe.”

The investigation of Larson began on January 15th when police discovered evidence that he had allegedly engaged in sexual conduct with a person who had sought his services.

These incidents allegedly occurred during 2022 and 2023, and led to the three Class 4 Felony counts, each of which carry a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and up to a $30,000 fine.

According to South Dakota codified law, any psychotherapist who knowingly engages in an act of sexual penetration with a person who is not his or her spouse, and who is a patient who is emotionally dependent on the psychotherapist at the time of sexual penetration, commits a Class 4 felony. Consent by the patient is not a defense.

In a separate incident, Larson is alleged to have engaged in sexual activity during 2023 under circumstances that led to the charge of Hiring for Sexual Activity.

Larson was booked into the Codington County Detention Center just before 4 p.m. Wednesday. He walked out of jail approximately three hours later under the terms of a personal recognizance bond issued by Judge Bob Pesall.