A former ultrasound technician accused of sexually assaulting three women during testing will be charged in all three cases, the Douglas County attorney said Wednesday.
Kevin W. Ryan, 27, of Omaha was booked into jail Wednesday on suspicion of two counts of first-degree sexual assault.
County Attorney Don Kleine said the two cases involve alleged digital penetration during exams on arteries and veins in the legs of two of the women. If convicted, Ryan would face up to 50 years in prison on each count, Kleine said.
Three women, ages 64, 55 and 17, told police that Ryan assaulted them at Midwest Cardiology, 8420 W. Dodge Road, during office visits in September, October and December.
Ryan remained in jail Wednesday night. Family members did not respond to a request for comment.
A prepared statement from Midwest Cardiology said in part, "Kevin Ryan is no longer an employee of ours. We are cooperating fully with the proper authorities surrounding this investigation and will conduct a review of internal procedures to ensure all appropriate measures are taken. Patients with any concerns should contact us or the Omaha police."
Ryan will be in court Thursday to face two felony charges, Kleine said.
A misdemeanor charge will be filed in the case involving the 17-year-old woman, who reported she was fondled in December during an ultrasound on her chest and abdomen.
The 64-year-old woman said Wednesday in a phone interview that she has been dealing with guilt since finding out that other women allege being assaulted by Ryan.
"I felt like if I had come in when it had first happened, I would have prevented it from happening to somebody else, and I really felt bad," said the woman, who spoke on condition that her name not be used.
The woman said the ultrasound was conducted in September to check for blood clots in her legs before she underwent heart treatment.
She said she knew something was wrong during the exam but didn't say anything and went home.
"I didn't go out of my house for three weeks," she said. "I didn't tell anybody until I went (back to the office) in January to finish my heart treatments."
The woman said she broke down while recounting the matter and was told "it had happened to somebody else." The office manager, she said, told her that she would call police for the woman. Police later contacted the woman and took a report.
"I've been going there for years," the woman said of Midwest Cardiology. "I love the staff. Everybody's great there."
She said she had no reason to think anything bad would happen during an exam.
It's normal for people to place their trust in medical professionals, said Lynn Pollitt of the Women's Center for Advancement, formerly the YWCA.
"I think it's a natural assumption that these people would do no harm," said Pollitt, the group's domestic violence/sexual assault and prevention/education director.
The 55-year-old woman who reported being assaulted during an ultrasound in October said she ended up in a hospital emergency room three days later for treatment of an injury she suffered during the procedure. Emergency room workers contacted police, she said.
The woman, who also spoke on condition that she not be identified, said the 64-year-old woman had called her. "I know she feels bad," she said. "I told her it wasn't her fault."
Kleine said the women were courageous to come forward. He said women who have concerns about a medical procedure can ask to have someone else in the examination room when exams are performed.
Kleine also said the three complaints against Ryan are all that authorities are aware of, but the investigation is continuing.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1109, bob.glissmann@owh.com
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