Charlotte doctor indicted on sexual assault charges

A Charlotte doctor accused of molesting patients during exams was indicted this week on 12 sexual assault-related counts involving nine alleged victims, his lawyer said.

Most of the counts against Dr. Fidelis Edosomwan are for second-degree sexual offense, a felony, said George Laughrun, Edosomwan’s lawyer. Several other counts are for misdemeanor sexual battery.

Edosomwan, 52, has denied the charges since he was arrested last year.

“Dr. Edosomwan is looking forward to his day in court, as he has been from day one,” Laughrun said Thursday.

Edosomwan’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 7 at 2 p.m. in Mecklenburg Superior Court, Laughrun said.

In January 2015, Edosomwan, of Waxhaw, was accused of molesting two patients. After his arrest Charlotte-Mecklenburg police encouraged others to come forward. In total, more than 40 reports were filed against Edosomwan by March 2015 alleging assaults had occurred during examinations.

Police said they identified 34 alleged victims. The cases stretched back seven or eight years, authorities said, and involve people who range in age from their 20s to late 40s.

The Mecklenburg District Attorney’s office did not disclose on Thursday why Edosomwan was indicted on just nine charges.

Most of the alleged assaults occurred at Americare Health, at 1805 Milton Road, Charlotte, police said. At least one assault is alleged to have happened at a clinic in the 700 block of West Sugar Creek Road, police said.

This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Charlotte doctor indicted on sexual assault charges."