- Richard Arthur Shulze, 52, charged with practicing dentistry without a license.
- Shulze surrendered his license in October 2023 following a pair of misdemeanor convictions.
- Despite a cease and desist order, Shulze allegedly continued practicing in Murray in 2024.
MURRAY — An Eagle Mountain man who surrendered his dentistry license in 2023 is now facing criminal charges accusing him of continuing his practice in Murray.
Richard Arthur Shulze, 52, was charged Tuesday in 3rd District Court with two counts of practicing dentistry without a license, a third-degree felony.
Shulze gave up his dental license in October of 2023, according to charging documents. He had been licensed in Utah since 2004. According to a report from the Utah Division of Professional Licensing, Shulze was convicted by entering pleas of "no contest" to DUI in Utah County and again to trespassing in Nevada in 2023.
"Based on continuing health issues, (Shulze) has reduced (his) private dentistry practice and now desires to surrender (his license)," the report states. Shulze could reapply for his license after a year if he chose to, according to the state.
But four months after giving up his license, a former patient was contacted and asked "to come to the Murray office to receive dentures," according to charging documents. When the patient got there, "she observed and recorded the defendant working on a male patient."
"Investigation revealed that the defendant had rented the office space from the property owner … on multiple occasions, telling (him that) he needed to finish old cases," prosecutors wrote in charging documents.
Shulze also posted videos on Facebook in 2024 under the name "Dr. Rich Implants" and promoted a practice called "Prevention Dentistry," which was described as "preventive dental treatment, and stated insurance was not needed," the charges allege.
When confronted by a state licensing investigator in 2024, Shulze "initially denied practicing but then admitted he had rented the Murray office to follow up with past patients for denture and crown fittings," according to the charges. He was issued a "cease and desist" order at that time and fined $10,000.
But just two months later, prosecutors say Shulze again "solicited patients via text message and Facebook, identifying himself as 'Ricardo,' quoting a price of $89 for X-rays," according to charging documents.
A state investigator conducted surveillance on Shulze at his office and "observed multiple individuals entering and exiting the suite, including a female with small children," the charges state. "Upon entering the clinic, (the investigator) found the defendant seated behind the front desk. (Shulze) initially claimed the dentist had just left, but when confronted, admitted he was performing X-rays and providing dental work to patients. A patient in the waiting room, who had no prior relationship with the defendant, identified (Shulze) as "Dr. Shulze" and confirmed he was there to see (him) for dental treatment."
An assistant to Shulze told investigators that he "did not have patients complete any medical or dental intake forms."
"By (Shulze's) own admissions, he 'apparently ran out of time and got busted,'" according to charging documents.
