Federal Judge Leon Holmes has dismissed a malicious prosecution lawsuit by Dr. Jose Turcios, a dentist, against the city Little Rock and various police officers for his arrest on a charge that he had molested a 15-year-old patient. He had sued after being acquitted of the charge.

The judge said Turcios had presented no evidence that defendants persuaded people to make false statements. The judge said there may have been “gaps” in the investigation, but no intentional or reckless misconduct.

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Here’s the judge’s opinion.

City Attorney Tom Carpenter notified the City Board of the decision and included this note:

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This afternoon U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes ruled in favor of various Little Rock police detectives (and Arkansas State Police detectives) on a malicious prosecution claim filed by Dr. Jose Turcios. Dr. Turcios was accused of sexual abuse of a 15-year old female patient in 2015. Based upon LRPD investigations, he was charged with a state felony offense, but was acquitted at trial. The ASP undertook an investigation that has him registered on the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry. At one point Dr. Turcios suggested a $600,000 settlement on his claims through his lawyer Michael Laux. The City refused this offer. As a result of Judge Holmes’s ruling today, there will be no judgment against the City.

At trial, Turcios denied the allegation of molestation and said it would have been all but impossible for him to molest a patient without being seen. His attorney said the teen’s memory could have been affected by use of nitrous oxide and suggested that her allegations grew from dislike of the treatment she was receiving for adjustment of braces.

A civil suit against Turcios is set for trial in March in state court.

UPDATE: Michael Laux, an attorney for Turcios, ojbects to calling this a win for the city. It was dismissed without prejudice, meaning it could be refiled and he notes the judge’s order which mentions a state court option. He offers his filing in response to the city’s summary judgment motion.

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