Bountiful doctor accused in child sex abuse, porn cases waives preliminary hearing

Bountiful doctor accused in child sex abuse, porn cases waives preliminary hearing

(Benjamin Zack, Pool, File)


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FARMINGTON — A Bountiful doctor accused of sexually abusing two young girls and viewing child pornography appeared in court Friday to waive a preliminary hearing.

Nathan Clark Ward, 56, faces 11 felony charges in 2nd District Court, including sodomy on a child, aggravated sex abuse of a child and forcible sodomy, forcible sex abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor.

Now that Ward has waived a preliminary hearing, where prosecutors would have been required to present evidence supporting the charges, an arraignment has been scheduled for March 15.

Meanwhile, Ward has also been indicted in U.S. District Court on charges of production of child pornography, possession of child pornography and distribution of child pornography.

A jury trial had been scheduled in the federal case, but was canceled in January in lieu of a change of plea hearing, currently set for March 5.

Ward, who has been in practice for more than 25 years, was a popular doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. He was suspended from Lakeview Hospital after his arrest, which was made following an investigation by the Davis County Sheriff's Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

In his original arrest, a police affidavit states that Ward was being investigated for online conversations in which he allegedly discussed raping young girls, ages 13 and 15, and "describes desires to rape females and minors."

Ward is being held without bail in Davis County Jail.

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