GREGORY CARTER: PLEADED GUILTY TO PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT; SUSPENDED 3 MONTHS; GAVE OPINIONS FOR WHICH HE WAS NOT QUALIFIED; DURHAMREGION.COM;

"Mr. Carter, 63, was charged Jan. 25 with fraud, obstructing justice and perjury. Durham police allege Mr. Carter falsely identified himself as a psychologist in family court proceedings, identifying himself as a doctor. Some of those hearings resulted in parents losing bids for custody of their children, police said."

DURHAMREGION.COM; (This story is followed below by the January 26, 2010 story of carter's arrest on criminal charges);

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BACKGROUND: Gregory Carter, 63, was charged Jan. 25 with fraud, obstructing justice and perjury. Durham police allege Mr. Carter falsely identified himself as a psychologist in family court proceedings, identifying himself as a doctor. Some of those hearings resulted in parents losing bids for custody of their children, police said. On June 22, 2010, he pleaded guilty to professional misconduct for holding himself out as a "doctor" and was suspended for three months. Local papers have reported that the possibility of a class action is being explored.

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"DURHAM -- A former psychologist with the Children's Aid Society has been suspended from practising for three months by a disciplinary panel," Durham.comn reported earlier today under the heading, "Durham psychologist pleads guilty to professional misconduct," and the sub-heading, "Can't practice for three months."

(The cut-line for a photo reads: "The office sign of Gregory Carter in the Dundas-Centre Medical building at 220 Dundas Street West. Mr. Carter has been charged by the Durham Regional Police."

"Greg Carter appeared before the panel with the College of Psychologists at a hearing in Toronto Tuesday afternoon. He pleaded guilty to professional misconduct," the story by reporter Ron Pietroniro continues.

"Mr. Carter worked with the CAS on a contract basis from 2003 to 2009. The majority of the work he conducted for the agency was assessments of children in care. The contract was terminated in 2009 after complaints about Mr. Carter were made to the college.

Mr. Carter, 63, was charged Jan. 25 with fraud, obstructing justice and perjury. Durham police allege Mr. Carter falsely identified himself as a psychologist in family court proceedings, identifying himself as a doctor. Some of those hearings resulted in parents losing bids for custody of their children, police said."

Check in with durhamregion.com later this afternoon for more on this story.

The story can be found at:

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/156771

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DURHAMREGION.COM 26 January, 2010 STORY BY REPORTER JEFF MITCHELL ON CRIMINAL CHARGES LAID AGAINST GREGORY CLARK AS IT RAN UNDER THE HEADING, "FAMILY COURT TESTIMONY ALLEGED TO BE PERJURY:

"DURHAM -- Police have laid criminal charges against a Whitby man, alleging he committed perjury by presenting false professional credentials while testifying in child custody cases, the story begins.

"Gregory Carter presented himself as a psychologist and dubbed himself a doctor while testifying about the suitability of people to care for children, police and other complainants allege," it continues.

"Mr. Carter, who has a long-standing practice in Whitby and associations with agencies including the Durham Children's Aid Society, was charged Monday with fraud, perjury and obstructing justice.

The development came as a relief to one Clarington man who has complained to both police and Ontario's College of Psychologists. The man lost custody of his granddaughter after a 2006 family court trial in which Mr. Carter testified on behalf of the birth father.

"I'm quite pleased," said Mr. B., whose full name can't be used to protect the child's identity. "He's been doing this for years and no one has stopped him until now."

He suggested court cases Mr. Carter has been involved in ought to be subject to review.

Mr. Carter, 63, did not return messages left Tuesday at his home and at his Whitby office. The allegations against him have not been proven in court.

Mr. Carter is registered with the College of Psychologists as a psychological associate. According to the college's website, he is authorized to work with children and families, but is prohibited from independently diagnosing symptoms or disorders, and is required to perform duties under the supervision of a qualified psychologist.

The website also indicates at least two complaints have been made, alleging Mr. Carter breached the limitations placed on him.

Mr. B. said Mr. Carter presented critical evidence during his family's custody battle in a Durham family court proceeding, including an assertion Mr. B. is "narcissistic" and hostile towards the child's father. In explaining his decision, a judge said Mr. Carter's testimony "tips the balance" in favour of the father, according to a transcript.

Mr. B. feels the case was decided by testimony from a witness who wasn't qualified to offer an opinion. The outcome was devastating to him and his wife, he said.

"A 10-year-old girl has been forced against her wishes to leave the only home she has ever known and we have been left both emotionally and financially ruined in our retirement years," Mr. B. said. He said he and others have contacted a lawyer about launching a civil suit.

In a letter responding to Mr. B's complaint Mr. Carter indicates he completed a Masters Degree in 1978 and pursued further education, including a doctorate obtained from Pacific Western University in 1991. Pacific Western, renamed California Miramar University in 2007, was the subject of controversy in 2004 when American media outlets alleged the school was a "diploma mill" offering expedited credentials for a price.

Mr. Carter operates a practice out of a professional building on Dundas Street West in Whitby. He is past president of the board of Durham Mental Health Services and has been associated with the Durham Children's Aid Society. Among his duties for the CAS was carrying out parenting capacity assessments, said spokeswoman Andrea Maenza.

Such assessments play a role in determining if children remain with their parents or are made wards of the Crown, she said. While performing assessments Mr. Carter had limited access to CAS records, she confirmed.

Mr. Carter's involvement with the CAS was suspended recently and the agency is awaiting the outcome of the college's investigation into complaints against him, Ms. Maenza said.

"We've made no judgment," she said. "We'll let the college takes its course ... and then we'll determine whether or not we'll pursue any other contracts with him."

Rob Adams, executive director of Durham Mental Health Services, said Mr. Carter has served as a volunteer director, assisting with agency governance and strategic direction.

"He had no involvement in the agency's day to day operations or client services and supports," Mr. Adams said."

Mr. Carter is scheduled to appear in court in March. A police investigation continues;

The story can be found at:

http://newsdurhamregion.com/news/article/146888

Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;