Eastside doctor accused by patients of sexual assault, abuse found not guilty

Patients and residents on Tucson’s Eastside are confronting the conclusion of a criminal case that involved allegations from nearly 20 women and accusations tied to medical examinations. Dr. Dung T. Nguyen, the doctor at the center of the case, was found not guilty Tuesday on every count. The Pima County Attorney’s Office said Nguyen faced 31 counts involving the patients. The verdict ends the criminal proceedings described in the available information, but the allegations and the case’s impact remain significant for people who seek medical care in the community.

The case began after numerous women came forward to Tucson police, alleging that Nguyen sexually assaulted them during physical examinations. The source information does not identify the medical practice, provide the dates of the alleged incidents, or describe how long Nguyen had practiced in Tucson. It also does not detail the specific allegations behind each of the 31 counts. What is clear is that the investigation involved multiple patients and that police pursued the case after those women reported what they said happened during appointments.

A criminal charge is an allegation, not proof of guilt. Nguyen’s not guilty verdict means the case did not result in convictions on any of the counts brought against him. The available account does not explain whether the verdict was issued by a jury or a judge, identify the court where the case was heard, or summarize the evidence presented during the proceedings. It also does not include a statement from Nguyen, his attorneys, the patients, or any medical organization connected to the case.

The number of allegations made the prosecution unusually broad in scope. According to the Pima County Attorney’s Office, 31 counts were connected to nearly 20 patients. That means the case involved multiple accusers rather than a single reported encounter. The account identifies the alleged conduct as sexual abuse and assault and says the women described incidents during physical exams. No further details were provided about the examinations, the individual patients, or the specific charges filed in each case.

Tucson police became involved after the women reported the alleged assaults. The source does not provide a timeline for when complaints were made, when detectives began investigating, or when charges were filed. It also does not say whether additional complaints were received after the initial investigation or whether any civil cases have been filed. With the criminal case ending in acquittals on all counts, the information available does not identify any further legal proceedings or actions involving Nguyen.

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover addressed the broader responsibility of her office in cases involving people who report harm. She said that when her office receives a file, the harm has already occurred, and that its Victim Services Division is intended to support victims as they move through the judicial process. Conover also said her office would work on a case regardless of whether the allegations were reported six months after an incident or 20 years later, describing justice as something that should not have an expiration date.

That statement highlights one issue raised by the case, the time it can take for people to report alleged sexual misconduct. The available information does not say when the women in this case came forward or whether they reported at the same time. It does show that the county attorney’s office views access to support as important regardless of how much time has passed. For Tucson residents, that message may be relevant not only to people directly connected to the case, but also to patients who have questions about reporting or seeking assistance after an upsetting medical encounter.

The verdict also leaves unanswered questions about what happens next for the people involved. The county attorney’s office did not provide, in the available account, a detailed explanation of the prosecution’s response to the acquittals. There is no information about whether the office plans to appeal, whether an appeal would be legally possible, or whether any administrative or professional review is underway. The report likewise does not say whether Nguyen will continue practicing medicine or whether any restrictions have been placed on his license.

For now, the central facts are the verdict and the scale of the case. Nguyen was accused by numerous women of sexual assault and abuse during physical examinations, faced 31 counts involving nearly 20 patients, and was found not guilty on all counts Tuesday. Tucson police investigated after the complaints were made, and the Pima County Attorney’s Office said its victim support services remain part of its role in cases like this. More information about the evidence, the court’s proceedings, and any future action was not included in the available account.