MANKATO — A jury has cleared a former Mankato Clinic eye doctor of sexual assaulting two of his patients.

Todd Gavin faced two felony and two gross misdemeanor charges related to exams conducted in 2010 after which two women claimed they had been made to remove their clothing were inappropriately touched by Gavin.

Assistant Blue Earth County Attorney Michael Hanson told jurors Gavin had taken advantage of the women. Gavin’s defense team insisted the veteran eye doctor had done nothing improper and was being punished for being thorough.

The accusers were women seen back-to-back by Gavin in 2010. One woman reported an alleged assault the next day. The second reported her allegation weeks later.

Gavin’s attorneys insisted the patients had misunderstood their client’s methods.