A civil case filed by one of Dr. Richard McGrath’s victims in Sitka is currently being appealed before the Alaska Supreme Court. Following the conviction of Dr. McGrath for sexual assault, Phoenix Johnson, a former colleague from Ketchikan, has shared her story of harassment and alleged assault.

From Military Service to Medical Aspirations

Phoenix Johnson, now working in political advocacy and education, initially planned a career in medicine. “Getting into the medical field was almost out of survival,” Johnson explained. “I’ve always cared about people…I was a suicide intervention skills instructor, the youngest in the Air Force to do that. It hurts my heart to see people hurting, and I haven’t had help when I needed it.”

Working at Ketchikan Indian Community

In the summer of 2011, Johnson moved to Ketchikan and in 2012, she began working as a lab technician for the Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC). She described the opportunity as deeply personal, given her biracial heritage – her mother is Indigenous and her father was stationed in Alaska with the Coast Guard. “I thought, ‘What a neat opportunity to be a part of my mother’s tribal community, and to give back and help people.’”, she said.

Allegations of Inappropriate Behavior

Johnson stated that Dr. Richard McGrath, the lab director, immediately made her uncomfortable. She described instances where he invaded her personal space. “Immediately I could tell where he placed his body was unprofessional,” Johnson says. “The personal bubble wasn’t there.”

She recalls several incidents of inappropriate touching, including on her thigh, neck, and hair. Johnson also stated that McGrath invited her to his home on Prince of Wales Island, an invitation she declined. A particularly disturbing incident involved a physical assault.

The Butt Slap Incident

“He came in, and that was the morning that he like full on, slapped my butt, and there’s no mistaking that,” Johnson recounted. “It was underhand, slapping, cupping booty jiggle, all of it. And I was stunned, and I remember looking at him, and I was resolved, and I just said, ‘Never touch me like that again.’”.

Dismissal of Claims and Subsequent Firing

Johnson reported the incidents to KIC’s human resources department, but she felt her allegations were not taken seriously. She was told the issue would be addressed by limiting interaction between her and McGrath, but she felt she was being blamed.

On April 17th, Johnson received a letter from KIC’s General Manager, Debra Patton, rejecting her sexual harassment claim. The letter characterized the incidents as “non-intentional communication and physical contact,” attributing McGrath’s actions to “casualness” and suggesting Johnson misinterpreted them. The letter also stated the butt slap was accidental, intended for her back.

Shortly after receiving the letter, Johnson was fired. “Treating me as if I was some high threat or a criminal was that much more traumatizing,” Johnson recalls. “And then I’m just being dumped out on the sidewalk with no plan, no severance, no apology, no justice.”

McGrath's Later Conviction and Johnson's Motivation

KCAW has confirmed that McGrath worked for KIC through at least 2013. He was later hired at Sitka Community Hospital and placed on administrative leave in December 2018. In 2023, he pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual assault.

Johnson came forward after learning of McGrath’s arrest in Sitka, believing that if her allegations had been addressed years ago, further harm could have been prevented. “Being able to talk about this now means that my experience isn’t just invisible and it wasn’t erased,” she said. “Every time that we can tell these stories, it shines more light.”

Johnson expressed skepticism about the court system but remains optimistic that collective integrity can lead to positive change. “We don’t need a system to have integrity, I try to teach people that. Every day I teach my daughter that you don’t need a law to tell you to be a decent human being,” Johnson says.