PROVO — A fertility specialist in Springville is accused in court documents of fondling his female patients on numerous occasions.
Larry Glen Andrew, an osteopathic physician, was charged Friday in 4th District Court with 21 counts of forcible sex abuse in incidents that allegedly occurred between April 2002 and December 2005.
"The allegations are that Dr. Andrew touched patients in a manner that we believe was sexual in nature without the knowledge and voluntary consent of the victims," said Deputy Utah County Attorney David Sturgill.
Andrew's attorney Peter Stirba said the charges are a "devastating development" for the doctor and his family.
"Under our system of justice, he is presumed innocent of the charges, and I'm sure he will respond to them at the appropriate time in an appropriate manner."
Stirba represented Andrew in a hearing last year before the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. The agency suspended Andrew's license in December 2005 after receiving allegations of improper conduct.
DOPL began an investigation after Springville police contacted the state agency with licensing questions about the physician and his practice at 376 E. 400 South, said Springville Lt. Dave Caron.
In February, DOPL reinstated Andrew's license.
"His license was restored because we didn't feel that he presented an immediate danger to the general public," said DOPL spokesman Clark Caras.
"What happened in 4th District Court today is an entirely different proceeding than the enforcement proceedings we do in our licensing," Caras said. "Our case in regards to Dr. Andrew does remain open."
The two investigations are separate and being continued by each entity.
"There are some patients who . . . were not mistreated in any way," Caron said. "There are probably others who may or may not have been, (but) may not even know because of the nature of the crime."
Caron said his detectives, while investigating the case, spoke with other physicians to learn the proper steps for fertility procedures.
"(We asked) if you came in . . . would this happen, would that happen, what would you do?" Caron said. "We are not medical people but the consensus of our findings and the findings of the county attorney indicate that his behavior obviously crossed that line into the criminal."
A second-degree felony charge carries a possible sentence of one year to 15 years.
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