Powers will get alimony

Powers will get alimony By Karen White / Senior Times Writer SANTA MARIA — A local therapist accused of inappropriate sexual relations with a patient will receive a $1,000-a-month support grant from his former wife. Santa Maria Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville ordered the spousal support for former psychologist Will Powers during a court session June 17. The grant is for 24 months. Powers, who operated Affiliated Psychotherapists, pleaded no contest on Nov. 8, 2001, to five misdemeanor business and professional charges that resulted in surrender of his state license and a court ruling that he not practice as a psychologist or therapist for the next three years. The action followed a civil suit filed by a Santa Maria woman charging inappropriate sexual relations when she sought marriage counseling. Powers also was a television and newspaper columnist and teacher. Beatrice Rubio Powers was ordered to pay her former husband spousal support, retroactive to May 1, 2002. “This is an unusual case because the intentional actions of Petitioner (Will Powers) have caused the loss of his professional license,” Melville wrote in his decision. However, this does not bar Powers from asking for and receiving spousal support, the judge said. The judge said Powers contributed extensively to his wife’s attainment of her career. She is now a school administrator, he said. Melville said Powers does not have a marketable skill at this time, having just lost his professional license. He will need retraining to establish a new use for his extensive education. The judge said that both parties are healthy and at an age when they can work. According to Melville, Powers “is suffering a hardship at this time. While he is responsible for his situation, he does need help.” Powers “is a writer, as well as a psychologist and the combination should provide many opportunities for future success … he will be back on his feet within two years,” Melville said. Lawyers for both Will and Beatrice Powers, and the principals themselves, were not immediately available for comment. * Senior staff writer Karen White can be reached at (805) 739-2217 or by e-mail at kwhite@pulitzer.net. June 26, 2002 :nav Source: http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2002/06/26/news/export6019.txt