‘Christian chiropractor’ sentenced to work release as part of plea agreement

HENDRICKS COUNTY, Ind. — The self-proclaimed “Christian chiropractor” who was charged with sexual battery has been sentenced in Hendricks County.

Roc Byrd was sentenced to six years of work release on Monday and will be required to report to work release on Monday evening. Byrd’s sentence also includes a nearly $8,000 fine, mandatory sex offender therapy and registering as a sex offender.

This comes after a series of criminal charges were filed against Byrd, including sexual battery charges, as well as rape and misdemeanor battery charges, from multiple incidents that occurred between 2018 and 2022, according to previous reports. Byrd was first arrested in 2023.

At the time, multiple patients said that Byrd would pull patients’ pants down without permission and touch them inappropriately. Previous reports indicate that Byrd would also press himself on some patients.

Initially, Byrd agreed to a plea deal where he pleaded guilty to four counts of sexual battery, each a Level 6 felony. However, after a disagreement surrounding the plea, specifically surrounding whether or not the sentence would include work release, the deal was ultimately rejected by a judge.

Since then, multiple documents were filed in Hendricks County court surrounding the enforcement of Byrd’s plea agreement. The documents said that the discussion surrounding the motion was expected to occur during the sentencing hearing.

Byrd was also the subject of a civil tort that was filed in December 2023 in Hendricks County. The plaintiff, unidentified in the court documents, accused Byrd of battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Cornerstone Chiropractic, the business where Byrd was based, was also named in the tort, being accused of negligent infliction of emotional distress and negligence.

As of Monday, a two-day jury trial is scheduled in the civil tort case in late October in Hendricks County.