Ex-Doctor Sentenced to 5 Years for Sexual Assault

A former East Hartford doctor has been sentenced to five years in prison for sexually assaulting a patient and witness tampering.

Edwin Njoku, 53, was sentenced Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court. He had faced up to 11 years in prison.

A jury in August acquitted Njoku of raping the female patient, but convicted him of misdemeanor sexual assault and witness tampering. Authorities said Njoku tried to get the victim to keep quiet about what happened.

Njoku's lawyer said his client was the victim and the patient made sexual advances toward him to obtain pain medication. Njoku plans to appeal the convictions.

Sexual assault charges involving four other patients remain pending against Njoku.

The allegations led the state Medical Examining Board to revoke Njoku's license to practice medicine last year.