Defense witnesses will continue Monday in the trial of Robert Rook, a Conway family practice physician accused of sexually assaulting women in medical examinations.

Employees and others testified to his good character and more defense testimony is planned Monday, according to reporting in the Log Cabin Democrat in Conway.

Advertisement

One witness, while testifying of her certainty that Rook had not engaged in improper practices, did support accounts that Rook had locked examination rooms while seeing some patients.

Each of his accusers said he locked the door after entering the exam room without a female nurse accompanying him.

On Friday, members of Rook’s current staff said this was unlikely.

One woman said she noted two times where he locked the door behind him. However, after pulling him to the side and questioning him about the aforementioned incidents, Rook said he only locked the doors at the patients’ request but would not do so again. The two women involved in these instances, Rook’s employee testified, never reported being sexual assaulted by Rook.

Another woman who has worked at Rook’s office since August 2016 said she found it odd that one of Rook’s accusers said he sexually assaulted her, noting the alleged victim was “shocked” when she first heard Rook was arrested in June 2016 following the initial complaints against him.

No indication yet if Rook will testify.

Advertisement

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article The royal wedding was quite a show Next article Vote against the judicial election swamp builders