In late 2011, Dr. Medhat Michael was accused by his employees of sexual harassment and charged with sexual battery. Earlier this week, those employees testified at Dr. Michael preliminary hearing, alleging that the physician made numerous inappropriate comments and repeatedly touched, hugged, and grabbed them at his office in Edmond, Oklahoma.

When a warrant was issued for his arrest in December 2011, Dr. Michael turned himself in to authorities when police were unable to serve the warrant at either his Oklahoma City home or his office. Dr. Michael denied the allegations of sexual abuse, saying, "This is false allegations, disgruntled employees.There is nothing there, baseless allegations and it’s going to go away.” His criminal defense attorney reiterated his client's proclamation of innocence: "He vehemently denies he’s done anything wrong. We are sure that at end of day he will be exonerated of any wrongdoing.” Former employees, however, assert that the doctor continually harassed them and touched them in a sexual manner without their consent.

Dr. Medhat Michael is charged with sexual battery for allegedly kissing and inappropriately touching four female employees between November 2010 and October 2011, when two accusers went to police about the alleged impropriety of Dr. Michael.

An alleged victim testifying at his preliminary hearing says that Dr. Michael hugged her "really close" during her interview and made her feel uncomfortable. However, she accepted a job at his clinic and said that he began making inappropriate sexual comments, "moaning" when she walked by, and twice grabbing her by the hips and thrusting his lower body against hers. She testified that she told Dr. Michael, "That is not OK. You need to stop right now," but he only laughed at her. She worked at the clinic for only a month.

Other witnesses are expected to testify today. In their previous statements to police, they accused Dr. Medhat Michael of making comments about their physical appearance, asking inappropriate questions about their sexual activity or the size of one woman's boyfriend's genitals, giving forceful hugs, attempting to kiss them, and telling them they were getting him "excited."

One former employee says that Dr. Michael would bark at her like a dog and use sexually explicit language. She accused him of touching her bottom by slipping his hand into her pants. She says she told him to stop "four or five times." Another says the doctor kissed her face, neck, and breasts, and that he told her he thought about her all night and he was "frustrated" because of her. She says he told her he loved her and asked her if she loved him, too.

Although Dr. Medhat Michael is charged with sexual battery allegedly occurring between November 2010 and October 2011, others accuse him of behaving inappropriately for much longer. In fact, one former employee filed a police report against him in 2008. She said she worked for the doctor for two days, during which he kissed her on the lips multiple times. She said at the end of the second day, he kissed her again and tried to put his tongue in her mouth, prompting her to quit and report him to authorities. The woman said she pushed him away each time, but did not explicitly tell him no. The Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office did not file charges in that case because "the victim did not tell him no per statute regulations."

Although the charges against Dr. Michael involve employees, patients accuse him of sexual harrassment as well. In an online review of the physician posted June 4, 2010, patient Jamie B. writes:

I have been to this Dr. four times and every time he says something very inappropriate.. "you are looking extremely gorgeous." I have just chosen to ignore his comments but this last time he was very inpatient when I was asking questions regarding my child's care. His behavior is sexual harassment!! and inappropriate. 

Dr. Medhat Michael continues to maintain his innocence, saying, "Anyone can make any allegation against anyone." It is important to remember that any person accused of a crime is to be considered innocent unless proven guilty.

Under Oklahoma law, sexual battery is defined as "the intentional touching, mauling or feeling of the body or private parts of any person sixteen (16) years of age or older, in a lewd and lascivious manner and without the consent of that person." In order to obtain a sexual battery conviction, prosecutors must prove four elements:

  • Intent
  • Physical contact
  • Lewd, lascivious, or sexual purpose
  • Lack of consent

The lack of one or more elements of the crime can be a defense against sexual battery charges. If you need a sex crime defense attorney in Oklahoma, visit the website of attorney Ryan Coventon at OK-Criminal-Defense.com/sex-crimes.