GRANITE FALLS — A jury trial for a Granite Falls doctor charged with criminal sexual conduct began Wednesday in Yellow Medicine County District Court.

Mark Eakes, 58, appeared in court on a total of seven counts of criminal sexual conduct.

During Wednesday’s court proceedings, jurors heard testimony from one woman who alleged Eakes had touched her inappropriately during pelvic exams in 2021. She also alleged that Eakes suggested she send him nude photos of herself.

Witness testimony in the trial will continue today.

Eakes is charged with four counts of 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. A criminal complaint alleged that Eakes had sexual contact with four adult patients during pelvic or breast exams in separate incidents between 2019 and 2021. At the time, Eakes was a doctor at Avera Granite Falls.

Eakes is not currently practicing medicine. According to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, Eakes entered into a stipulation agreement last year that he would not practice in Minnesota until the allegations against him could be resolved.

The jury selection process for the trial took up most of the day Wednesday. A total of 14 jurors were sworn in early in the afternoon.

In opening statements to the jury, assistant Yellow Medicine County Attorney Tara Ulmaniec outlined the allegations against Eakes. She said jurors would hear from women who alleged Eakes had sexual contact with them during exams, asked them inappropriate questions, and asked them to send him photos.

However, defense attorney Ryan Garry told jurors they would learn Eakes conducted proper medical exams and asked “medically sound” questions to try and help patients with multiple physical and mental health conditions.

The first day of the trial ended with testimony from a 37-year-old woman who was a patient of Eakes in 2020 and 2021. The woman said she was initially referred to Eakes about getting a medical marijuana license for pain management. She said that at later appointments with Eakes, he touched her inappropriately during pelvic exams. The woman also said she expressed an interest in losing weight at one appointment, and claimed Eakes then asked her to text him body measurements and photos of herself nude or in her underwear to track her weight loss progress.

District Court Judge Thomas Van Hon said the trial would continue starting at 8:30 a.m. today.