New charges filed against Kaysville chiropractor accused of sexually abusing 6 patients
MARK SHENEFELT, Standard-Examiner
The 2nd District courthouse in Farmington is pictured Nov. 1, 2021.FARMINGTON — Prosecutors have filed two additional charges against a Kaysville chiropractor accused of sexually abusing six female patients, bringing the total of felony counts to 20.
According to new charging documents, Kenneth Walter Pierce, 56, is alleged to have sexually abused six patients in a series of incidents from June 2018 to September 2021. Pierce initially was charged with abusing a patient on Sept. 17 last year. As the investigation unfolded, five more women came forward, with a final set of charges being filed Jan. 18 by the Davis County Attorney’s Office.
Pierce, who is held without bail in the Davis County Jail, appeared in 2nd District Court on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to the most recent 10 charges. He denied the first 10 charges in previous appearances.
Pierce is charged with one count of object rape, a first-degree felony, and 19 counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony.
Regarding the Sept. 17 incident, a Kaysville Police Department probable cause statement alleged that Pierce abused a patient during a massage appointment. The woman told officers that Pierce was alone in the chiropractic office, Right Now! Chiropractic, and he locked the doors behind them.
The affidavit alleged that Pierce massaged her genitals, buttocks and anus, penetrating her with a finger, then turned her over and “aggressively” massaged her breasts.
Other alleged victims, some with massage appointments and others with pain and needing adjustments, reported similar circumstances, being alone with Pierce after he locked the doors.
A second woman reported that on July 17, 2021, Pierce touched her genitals and pressed his genitals into her hand.
In the four other cases, women reported similar actions.
The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing on Dec. 1 revoked Pierce’s chiropractic license for five years, citing unprofessional conduct, in an order signed by Director Mark Steinagel. Pierce agreed to surrender his license under the agreement, which followed an investigation by the division into the criminal allegations.