WORCESTER, MASS. (WHDH) - A dentist was arrested Monday morning in Worcester after police said he assaulted a female patient.
The 35-year-old patient said Dr. Nikhil M. Patel, 54, grabbed her breast four times while she was having a procedure done. When she realized what was happening, police said she got up and left, filing a report at the police station.
Patel is the only dentist listed at the practice. The woman told police she had been going to that practice for years.
Patel was arrested at his office and faces charges of indecent assault and battery. He pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday and was released on $1,000 bail. He has also been told to stay away from the victim.
Patel has been a dentist for 26 years. His attorney Hector Pineiro said his client has never been in trouble before and is a devoted family man who has taken care of underserved people and done substantial charity work. He told reporters he has information that could exonerate Patel but cannot release it due to medical privacy laws.
One patient told 7News that Patel was always very friendly to her but she did find it odd that he told her she was pretty once.
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