Dentist Sentenced to 180 Years for Sexual Abuse of Staff and Patients

Joseph Clarence Cox, a dentist in the US, has been sentenced to 180 years in prison for a string of heinous sexual offenses against eight former staff members and three patients from his dental office.

The arrest of Cox, 44, came in April 2021 following a thorough investigation by the Gadsden Police Department. Revelations during the investigation exposed disturbing evidence of sexual misconduct perpetrated by Cox against his staff members.

Throughout the trial, which lasted a week, a total of eight former employees and three patients bravely testified to a series of harrowing incidents, including rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse, occurring during dental procedures. According to ABC, the jury found Cox guilty of two counts of rape, two counts of sodomy, and eight counts of sexual abuse in January.

During sentencing, Judge George Day did not mince words, describing Cox as treating his dental clinic as his “own personal playground” and displaying utter disrespect for the women who crossed his path.

In a move to ensure justice for the victims, Judge Day ordered Cox to serve 25 years in prison for each count of rape and sodomy and 10 years for each count of sexual abuse, with the sentences to run consecutively.

Cox’s arrest was prompted by a significant turnover of employees at his Gadsden Dental Clinic between June 2020 and April 2021, leading officers to execute search warrants at both his residence and clinic on Rainbow Drive, where he was apprehended a week later.

Despite initially being released on a $100,000 bond, Cox’s former employees recounted a pattern of sexual abuse that contributed to the high turnover at the clinic. Testimony revealed that Cox’s misconduct extended beyond inappropriate touching to include rape and sodomy, with some incidents occurring during regular business hours.

Furthermore, two patients testified that they were subjected to sexual contact during their dental procedures. This disturbing pattern of behavior by Cox was not isolated to his time in Gadsden. Before opening his dental practice, Cox faced complaints of sexual harassment and unwanted contact.

In 2012, a former employee at his Fort Payne office accused him of misconduct. Cox ultimately pleaded guilty to three counts of harassment, resulting in a $500 fine, probation, and a six-month suspension of his dental license.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Day emphasized the need for justice for each victim, underscoring the severity of Cox’s offenses and the importance of holding him accountable for his actions.

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Sarah M. Stone

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