OREM – A chiropractor in Orem is facing criminal charges of sexual battery after several of his patients contacted authorities alleging he touched them inappropriately during their appointments.
The investigation stems back to 2013, Orem Police Lt. Craig Martinez said, and began when two women contacted police about the alleged incidents. The first woman said she visited Dale Heath’s office about five or six times.
“During those visits she believes she was inappropriately touched,” Martinez said, “both over the clothing and under the clothing.”
According to Utah court documents, Heath, 56, began his chiropractic practice in 2011. Shortly after, a second woman came forward with allegations against Heath — claiming he had touched her inappropriately over her clothing, Martinez said. Police conducted an investigation but they, along with the county attorney, did not feel they had enough evidence to move forward with charges.
Police did, however, inform the Department of Professional Licensing, Martinez said. DOPL conducted its own investigation and then informed Heath that he was to inform patients of procedures he was planning on doing before doing them, and that he was to have a chaperone inside the room with him.
“They were supposed to fill out a log of who was in what room and where,” Martinez said. “That seemed to solve the problem for a few years. … We didn’t hear anything else until recently, this year, we got a third victim who came forward alleging some inappropriate touching.”
The most recent woman police interviewed said she was inappropriately touched over her clothing, as well, Martinez said. When police investigated the alleged incident, they discovered that the log book of chaperones had been falsely filled out and that Heath had allegedly been conducting procedures without the required supervision.
“We met with the county attorney’s office,” Martinez said, “and that’s when it was decided we were going to move forward with charges against him now.”
For the time being, Martinez said, Heath is still believed to be practicing out of his office, and the court process is ongoing.
Heath is facing multiple felony charges: five counts of sexual battery, one count of forcible sex abuse, one count of object rape and one count of writing false statements.
If there are others out there who believe they have had had similar encounters with Heath, Martinez said, police are asking them to come forward.
Those with any additional information are being asked to report it to police at telephone 801-229-7070
Read more on the charges Heath is facing at Fox 13 Now.com.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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Does being convicted of sex crimes affect someones worthiness? Do they still get to keep their recommend? I’m asking in all seriousness here. What is LDS corporate policy on this issue?
The article states he is “facing criminal charges of sexual battery.”
If convicted someone holding a recommend would not only have it rescinded, but would also appear in a disciplinary council, and I believe he would be excommunicated.