A Moline doctor could be spending time behind bars, accused of sexually assaulting two of his patients. Police arrested Norman F. Williams of Silvis on two counts of criminal sexual assault, but authorities are asking anyone who may have more information to come forward.
"It's always better to report early but it's not uncommon for an offense like this not to be reported immediately," said Moline Police Detective, Scott Williams. "Criminal sexual assault is an extremely serious charge to make."
And when a victim has been assaulted by someone who they'd typically trust -- a parent, a teacher, or a doctor -- sometimes it's even harder to tell police."Most victims of a criminal sexual assault usually are reluctant to come forward."
Dr. Norman Williams, a gastroenterologist with "Regional SurgiCenter" in Moline, has merely been charged at this point. But police say he's been accused by two separate patients of his.
One of the patients is a 55-year-old woman who said she was sexually assaulted by Dr. Williams in April, 2012. The other alleged victim is a 33-year-old woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by Dr. Williams back in June, 2011. Police say the 33-year-old woman waited more than one year to report the crime to authorities.
"Separate dates, separate incidents, not related in any way other than the doctor," Det. Williams said.
Police say both women tell authorities they were patients of Dr. Williams' and that he sexually assaulted them in his office. Police say neither woman was sedated during the alleged assaults.
Now, authorities want to find out if this has happened to anyone else --
"There's no reason to think that there wouldn't be additional victims," said Det. Williams. "So, we just want to make sure that if someone has been victimized that they do choose to come forward now."
Dr. Norman Williams is scheduled to be back in court on October 2.
