Dentist pleads no contest

Lodi dentist in groping case will likely be released next month

A Lodi dentist pleaded no contest Monday to four counts of sexual battery, acknowledging that he fondled and groped female patients.

As part of his plea deal, Ahmed Bakr, 33, will spend no more than six months in jail and will register for life as a sex offender. He could have faced up to four years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Bakr, who was arrested Oct. 1 and released on bail before being rearrested two weeks later, will likely have served his time by the Feb. 14 sentencing.

"He can go on with his life and get this behind him," his attorney, Greg Davenport, said after the appearance in the Lodi branch of San Joaquin Superior Court.

Bakr still faces possible deportation to his native Egypt, and his dental license is under examination by state officials.

Bakr had been charged with one felony and 12 misdemeanors, all relating to female patients, but Deputy District Attorney Brian Short dismissed all but the one felony and three misdemeanors after Bakr pleaded no contest Monday. However, as part of the plea deal, Bakr may still have to pay restitution for all the counts.

Bakr had been working at Western Dental, 320 S. Cherokee Lane, until female patients went to police with allegations that he had groped them when hygienists left the room.

Police arrested him Oct. 1 and he posted bail that day. When his bail bond agent received a tip that Bakr was preparing to leave the country, he arrested Bakr on Oct. 15. He has since remained jailed on $500,000 bail.

The felony charge, Short told Judge David P. Warner, related to a 27-year-old woman who was having a dental procedure done Oct. 7. She was anesthetized but conscious when Bakr touched her breasts and crotch, then reached under her shirt while she was "unable to resist" because of the medical procedure, Short said.

Bakr's brother, who declined to give his name, said after court his brother is innocent but agreed to the plea deal so he wouldn't have to spend more time behind bars. Unless Bakr violates the terms of his probation, he will not spend time in state prison.

The conviction means that Bakr could be deported back to Egypt, though Davenport said he didn't know if that would happen.

How that would affect any fines or restitution was also not known.

Bakr, who previously agreed that he would only practice on male patients if released from jail while the case was pending, still has his state dental license. At a later hearing, state officials could allow him to only practice on male patients, order that he have a third party in the patient's room at all times or revoke his license, Davenport said.

Monday's plea is separate from a civil lawsuit filed last month by five of Bakr's former patients. The women are seeking civil judgments from both Bakr and Western Dental, which fired Bakr after he was arrested.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.