A dentist in Arizona has agreed to have chaperones in his dental practices after a former dental assistant was accused of sexually abusing patients, according to a Feb. 3 report from ABC affiliate KNXV.
Walter Villanueva, DDS, owner of Kidiatric Dental & Orthodontics, agreed to have chaperones for patients who are minors and to be restricted from personally treating patients under an agreement signed with the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners.
Deion Garcia, a former dental assistant at the practice, was charged with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in May. He pleaded not guilty, and his trial is scheduled to begin in April.
Chandler police investigated Dr. Villanueva in 2022, but he was not charged or arrested.
In its own investigation, the dental board alleged that Dr. Villanueva did not take reasonable measures to make sure patients were not left alone with Mr. Garcia.
The practice, which has locations in Chandler and Gilbert, Ariz., will remain open. The restrictions are in place until the conclusion of the case against Mr. Garcia, the report said.