A Vero Beach doctor accused of making sexual advances against women who were his patients and employees has been sentenced to nearly a year in jail, according to Indian River County court records.
Christopher Olenek, 63, was convicted by a jury on April 24 of battery and sentenced by 19th Judicial Circuit Judge Nicole Menz to 364 days in the Indian River County Jail, court records show. The jury deliberated for just over two hours, finding Olenek guilty of one count of battery and not guilty of a second count of battery.
He was booked into the Indian River County Jail at 7:44 p.m. April 24.
Olenek is an osteopathic physician who has practiced locally since about 2000, according to state medical licensing records. He was operating under the trademark name Optimal Health at 927 37th Place, also known as East Side Urgent Care, according to records. His license status remains “clear/active” on the state’s website.
Assistant State Attorney Gayle Braun, who prosecuted the case, looked at the possibility of more charges, but the other incidents were outside the statute of limitations, which is two years from the incident for a first-degree misdemeanor.
“This was a hard case,” Braun said. “It was kind of a hostile environment for the prosecution, and the defendant had the courtroom filled with what I believe were multiple of his friends and patients. He seemed to be a very popular doctor in the area.”
His defense attorney, Edward Mosher, didn’t respond to a request for comment.
On Nov. 13, 2025, Olenek, who was 62 at the time, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery touch or strike, which is intentionally touching or hitting someone else against their will. Braun said the state prosecution added a second count after the woman who came forward described two separate allegations of touching.
The sheriff’s detective who investigated the complaints against Olenek wrote in his arrest warrant Olenek abused the “confidential nature of a doctor-patient relationship to perpetrate his crimes” and each woman expressed they were touched in an inappropriate manner on intimate parts of their bodies.
According to Olenek’s arrest warrant:
After the announcement of Olenek’s arrest, sheriff’s detectives heard from at least 20 women, including a juvenile, who reported their encounters with the doctor.
Two other cases were similar enough that the court allowed those women to testify for the state during the trial because that evidence would show a common theme or plan.
“I really just want to commend the victim for coming forward and the other two witnesses,” Braun said. “They were so brave in giving their testimony. I think the jury made the right decision and that justice was served.”
Laurie K. Blandford is a breaking news reporter with TCPalm. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida doctor found guilty of battery sentenced to jail
Reporting by Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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