BARRE – A 61-year-old Bradford man and former caregiver is facing a misdemeanor charge after he allegedly brought a patient to a hotel to engage in sexual activity instead of transporting them to an inpatient drug treatment facility.
Michael “Mickey” Sullivan, a formerly unlicensed, non-certified psychotherapist with the Valley Vista drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Bradford, pleaded not guilty in Washington Superior Court in Barre on Thursday to one misdemeanor charge of sexually abusing a vulnerable adult.
The potential penalty is up to 2 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both.
The charge is the result of an investigation conducted by the Secretary of State’s Office of Professional Regulation, which summarily suspended Sullivan’s registration on the roster of non-licensed, non-certified psychotherapists, and referred the matter to the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud and Residential Abuse Unit for prosecution, the Attorney General’s Office stated in a news release on Thursday.
The investigation began when the Office of Professional Regulation received a complaint that Sullivan had offered a patient methamphetamine in exchange for sexual activity in November 2024.
Describing his relationship with Sullivan, the alleged victim told investigators, “It was fine. It was funny. It was nice. And then when he picked me up, it was a little different,” according to the affidavit.
The alleged incident occurred the day after Thanksgiving, during a snowstorm, the patient said.
The patient told investigators Sullivan picked him up in his own car rather than “the van that would have had cameras,” according to the affidavit. Phone records reviewed by investigators showed Sullivan gave staff a different explanation, texting that he was using his personal vehicle because of the snowstorm and that it had better tires than the van.
A hotel receipt obtained by investigators confirmed that Sullivan checked into the alleged location of the incident under his name for one night.
On August 17, Assistant Attorney General Maureen McOwen found probable cause to charge Sullivan with sexual abuse of a vulnerable adult.
McOwen did not immediately return a voicemail on Friday.
After pleading not guilty on Thursday in Washington Superior Court, Judge Michael Harris ordered him released on conditions, including an order prohibiting him from contacting, abusing, or harassing the alleged victim and from working as a caregiver.
A voicemail left for Sullivan’s attorney, Avi Springer, was not immediately returned.
According to a “Valley Vista Coaching Notice” from August 2024, Sullivan received a “final warning” for giving a patient a cigarette and bringing the same patient “to an area where (the) patient would be off camera.”
In July 2025, he was terminated “due to an ethical issue off duty,” the affidavit states.
Valley Vista did not return a voicemail left by the Valley News.
However, in an emailed statement, Vice President Kevin Hamel said Valley Vista “take(s) all allegations involving client safety seriously and expect(s) all employees to adhere to the highest professional standards.”
“Valley Vista was recently made aware of allegations involving conduct that is reported to have occurred in 2024,” Hamel stated. “The information was brought to our attention nearly two years after the alleged incident and after the individual involved was no longer employed by the organization.”
Upon receiving the report, Hamel said Valley Vista immediately notified the authorities and “is cooperating fully with any review of the matter.”
“Valley Vista maintains employee background screening, credential verification, staff training, professional boundary standards, mandatory reporting procedures and ongoing supervision practices consistent with applicable Vermont licensing and regulatory requirements,” he said.
The Vermont Attorney General’s Office urges those who suspect someone is being or has been neglected or abused to contact local law enforcement immediately. Neglect and abuse may also be reported to Adult Protective Services by calling 800-564-1612. To report Medicaid fraud, use MFRAU’s online reporting form.
