Crime
Fingerprints on a Criminal Record
Posted: Tuesday, February 3, 2015 6:15 pm
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Updated: 7:29 pm, Tue Feb 3, 2015.
The Intelligencer
Susan Schecter-Cornbluth swore under oath that she was a practicing clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania, as well as licensed to practice family and marriage therapy in New Jersey.
But Solebury police say that the 41-year-old Montgomery County woman, who also teaches psychology at Temple University, lied.
They said Schecter-Cornbluth, of Ambler, committed perjury in December 2013 when she testified as an “expert witness” in a Bucks County family court hearing that she was a “licensed clinical psychologist” in New Jersey.
Schecter-Cornbluth also claimed that she practices clinical psychology in Pennsylvania, which allows a person to practice psychology without being licensed in the state, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Court documents do not say what prompted Solebury police to investigate Schecter-Cornbluth’s background claims, and the newspaper was unsuccessful in reaching Detective Roy Ferrari, who filed the charges.
But a subsequent search of Pennsylvania and New Jersey records found that Schecter-Cornbluth was never licensed to practice as a psychologist in either state and never applied for a license to practice psychology in New Jersey. A spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of State on Tuesday confirmed that psychologists practicing in the state must be licensed.
In December, authorities allege, Schecter-Cornbluth entered into a “consent agreement and order” with the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs, admitting to never being authorized to practice psychology as a profession or occupation, according to the affidavit.
“As a result the defendant was ordered to cease and desist from engaging in the practice of psychology in Pennsylvania,” court documents state.
Schecter-Cornbluth was arraigned Monday before District Judge Mark Douple on one count of felony perjury. She was released on $75,000 unsecured bail.
As of Tuesday, Schecter-Cornbluth was still teaching two psychology classes at Temple University, where she has worked as an adjunct faculty member since 2003, according to Brandon Lausch, a university spokesman.
“When an employee faces criminal charges, the university reviews those charges and any potential impact to employment and takes appropriate action, up to and including termination,” Lausch added.
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Tuesday, February 3, 2015 6:15 pm.
Updated: 7:29 pm.
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