Houston: An Indian-American doctor from Texas, who was convicted of raping a sedated patient in a Houston hospital, will not serve prison time and, instead, will spend 10 years of probation.

Jurors convicted Shafeeq Sheikh, 46, a former physician at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, of second-degree sexual assault after a trial that ended this past week. The crime is punishable by up 20 years in prison, but the Texas jury sentenced Sheikh to 10 years of probation on Friday.

Sheikh will have to register as a sex offender.

Unlike most states and the federal government, Texas grants juries the power to set criminal punishments.

The punishment has surprised defence attorneys, disappointed law enforcement and raised concerns from a victims advocacy group, according to media reports.

The jurors had recommended the sentencing, to which visiting Senior District Judge Terry L Flenniken was required to follow by law, according to local media report.

During the trial, the doctor admitted to the sexual contact with the woman. PTI