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An Orem chiropractor has been charged with felony object rape and other sexual offenses after three patients came forward to complain to police.
Orem police Lt. Craig Martinez said that Dale H. Heath, 59, allegedly committed the crimes over the past three years. Initially, city prosecutors did not feel they had enough evidence to proceed when the first two purported victims reported the incidents in 2013, but when the third patient complained in February of this year, all the cases were reopened.
On Monday, Heath was charged in 4th District Court with first-degree felony object rape; second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse; five class A misdemeanor counts of sexual battery; and one class B misdemeanor count of filing a false statement.
Martinez said a court summons would be issued to Heath. His first appearance before a judge had not been scheduled as of Tuesday.
Martinez said that while prosecutors initially declined to charge Health after the first two patients came forward, the Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing reviewed the complaints. Heath allegedly claimed the contact with the women's genitalia had been either accidental or incidental to treatment, court documents state.
Heath was allowed to continue practice on two conditions: he had to explain planned contact near his female patients' private areas ahead of time, and obtain their consent; and he was to have a "chaperone" present during those contacts.
When the third alleged victim came forward this year with allegations of vaginal contact, Heath again insisted he had not touched her inappropriately, and that a DOPL chaperone had been present, as required.
However, "police interviewed the chaperone, who admitted to signing patient logs representing that they had been present for treatments of females when they had not been present for such visits," a probable cause statement contends.
Noting that Heath has practiced chiropracty in Orem since 2011, Martinez said detectives are seeking other possible victims. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Orem police at 801-229-7070.
Twitter: @remims