Was Stephen Collins’ Therapist Obligated to Report Alleged Molestation?

Former criminal prosecutor and TV personality Loni Coombs discusses the biggest legal topics of the day, including the latest developments in the Stephen Collins alleged molestation case.

The discussion focuses on the fact that neither the LAPD, nor the NYPD is likely to prosecute the actor because of the statute of limitations and other factors relating to the allegations, which date back to the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Collins’ wife at the time, Faye Grant, was present at the therapy session during which the 7^th Heaven star made the confession, and says she provided an audio recording of it to the police. The question is then posed, should the therapist who conducted the session also have reported the information to police?

Loni said this remains a complicated question because much information shared by a patient with a therapist is covered by confidentiality regulations. “So a lot of things you think should be reported, but aren’t. Technically, it is only if there is imminent deadly force about to be used – if they think someone’s life is in danger, they can report that.”

She points out that while some laws have changed in California in recent years pertaining to mandatory reporting of crimes by therapists, teachers, etc., these would not be applicable in the Collins case because the actual victims would have been required to report the abuse within a certain number of years of turning 18 – a period that long since passed.

Despite the law in California requiring both parties of a conversation to consent to being recorded, Loni cited an exception to the law when one party believes a felony is about to be committed. It is believed that Collins’ ex-wife was informed by her lawyer that this was such a case and that she was therefore allowed to record the therapy session without Stephen’s knowledge.

Watch the full episode to also get analysis of the case of the so-called heroin hooker as well as the implications for Stephen Collins’ therapist in light of his alleged molestation confession, the start of the Jodi Arias penalty phase process and possible remains of Hannah Graham being found.