Special Prosecutor Jason Barrett has added 11 more victims to two others alleging rape by Dr. Robert Rook of Conway.
Rook earlier was charged with rape of two women. The state Medical Board has allowed him to continue to practice. The allegations pertained to actions he allegedly took with patients and included providing drug prescriptions in return for sex.
A new filing today in circuit court names Rook in 10 rape and 11 sexual assault charges covering 11 victims. The crimes date back to 2011 and run through April of this year.
Forcible intercourse or deviate sex constitutes rape. First-degree sexual assault covers forcible contact with sex organs of another person. One of the assault counts is a third-degree count, in which a professional such as a doctor uses his position to have sex with someone not a spouse. The charges are outlined here.
The regular prosecutor, Cody Hiland, isn’t handling the case because Rook had been a political supporter.
Rook was ordered to have no contact with the 11 women making today’s charges and an arrest warrant was issued. He was released on the original charge after posting a $225,000 bond and surrendering his passport.
This week’s Rook’s attorneys have filed legal arguments to suppress evidence taken in searches, saying it wasn’t properly obtained.