Bucks psychiatrist accused of inappropriate touching

A Doylestown psychiatrist was arrested Thursday for allegedly inappropriately touching three young patients.

Dr. Basem Shlewiet was taken into custody around 4:15 p.m. at his office, located at 16 N. Franklin St., Ste. 100.

Investigators with the Doylestown Borough Police Department between April and December 2013 received reports from three separate young women alleging Shlewiet touched them in a criminal manner during the course of their treatment.

Shlewiet was arraigned Thursday and charged with two counts each of unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors and seven counts of indecent assault, one of them on a person under the age of 16 years old.

According to Shlewiet's website, the doctor is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry. Schlewiet underwent his general psychiatry training at Albert Einstein Medical Center and his child and adolescent training at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Schlewiet is also a licensed family therapist, the site states.

Shlewiet in the past served as medical director of Foundations Behavioral Health and of KidsPeace. The two Doylestown psychiatric facilities provide treatment to children and adolescents through outpatient, partial hospitalization and residential programs.

"The practice of psychiatry and psychiatric treatment is more than my job ... It is my passion," Shlewiet wrote in a message on the site. "I have so much dedication to my patients and their families. Healing is just a natural outcome. "

Shlewiet was imprisoned Thursday at the Bucks County Jail after being unable to post 10 percent of $250,000 bail. He is next due in court Feb. 7 for a preliminary hearing.

The Bucks County District Attorney's Office has requested that any additional victims who may have been subject to inappropriate contact with Shlewiet call 215-348-6629.