For Tiny and Michael: Dentist accused of sexual assault of a minor
Cliff and Linda Griffith
09:47 PM CDT on Friday, April 13, 2007
By DEBRA DENNIS / The Dallas Morning News
debd...@dallasnews.com
Watauga police released an affidavit Friday detailing allegations that a
Watauga dentist assaulted a teen last December during a dental exam at his
office.
Joseph Anthony Bonola, 53, was arrested Wednesday after allegations that he
fondled a 13-year-old patient at Next Century Dental in Watauga.
Mr. Bonola's attorney, S. Cass Weiland of Dallas, said earlier this week
that the allegations are false. He did not return phone calls Friday for
comment.
Police said they have presented an indecency with a child charge against Dr.
Bonola to the Tarrant County district attorney's office.
The doctor was released from jail Wednesday after posting $75,000 bail.
The girl went to the dental office Dec. 1 for a dental exam, and her mother
waited in the dental office's reception area. The police affidavit said Dr.
Bonola entered an exam room shortly after a female assistant exited.
The doctor caressed the girl's breast, lifted her skirt and grabbed her
right inner thigh, the affidavit states.
According to the affidavit, Dr. Bonola asked the girl, "Were you sleeping
around with guys at school or doing drugs?"
He also questioned the girl about her "short" skirt and raised the front of
her skirt, nearly exposing her underwear, the affidavit said.
A male technician entered the room, and the girl lowered her skirt,
according to the affidavit.
As the doctor examined her teeth, the girl began shaking. "Don't worry, I
don't bite but I might spank you," the affidavit quotes the doctor as
saying.
As she stood up from the chair, Dr. Bonola slapped the teen's buttocks with
his open hand and laughed, the affidavit states.
The girl and her mother contacted police Dec. 20, according to the
affidavit.
Police said other dental patients came forward this week with similar
allegations about Dr. Bonola.
"We have had some people come forward, 10 or 11 so far, and that's over the
last couple of days," said Watauga police Lt. Philip Adams. "All of them saw
the newspaper and newscasts and they started calling and e-mailing, but we
don't have any more charges. There's just that one charge."
Police are investigating the other allegations.
Indecency with a child is a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20
years in prison.
Wild Monkshood
Cliff and Linda Griffith wrote:
> Sex assault charge against dentist is detailed
>
Dang! I wanted to comment on this, but since I'm neither Tiny or
Michael.... :(
Isn't this why Al Gore invented e-mail?
WM
>
tinydancer
"Cliff and Linda Griffith" <grif...@charter.net> wrote in message
news:ARAUh.1120$7n....@newsfe12.lga...
Thanks Linda, a perfect example of why I think it's a good idea to publish
the name of this guy. At the very least, parents can elect to accompany
their child into the examining room, and not allow this dentist to be
*alone* with their minor child.
td
>
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