By Deb Gau

dgau@marshallindependent.com

GRANITE FALLS — A jury trial is set

to start Wednesday for a Granite Falls doctor

charged with criminal sexual conduct,

Yellow Medicine County court records

said.

Mark Eakes, 58, allegedly conducted inappropriate

pelvic and breast exams on four

victims, a criminal complaint said. Eakes is

charged with a total of four counts of third

degree criminal sexual conduct – falsely

representing a medical purpose, and three

counts of fourth degree criminal sexual

conduct – falsely representing a medical

purpose. Two additional charges of fourth

degree criminal sexual conduct were dismissed

on Nov. 2, court records said.

A criminal complaint alleges Eakes sexually

abused four patients in incidents between

October 2019 and September 2021 at

Avera Granite Falls. The complaint alleges

that Eakes had inappropriate sexual contact

with victims during pelvic and breast

exams.

Eakes is not currently practicing medicine.

Documents from the Minnesota Board

of Medical Practice said Eakes entered into

a stipulation agreement last year that he

would not practice medicine in Minnesota

until the allegations against him could be

resolved.