A Maryland dentist who was reprimanded in 2018 for assaulting a patient has been criminally charged this time with multiple counts of committing sexual offenses against a female patient, according to the Montgomery County Department of Police in Maryland.
Dr. Ermias Semaie, 35, owner of a practice in Silver Spring, MD, was arrested on March 19 and charged with multiple counts of fourth-degree sex offense and second-degree assault. He was released on bond, according to a press release dated March 23 from the police department.
Dr. Ermias Semaie. Montgomery County Department of Police, Maryland.
On March 2, a woman contacted police to report that Semaie allegedly sexually assaulted her on two separate occasions during procedures at his office while a dental hygienist was not in the room. Police corroborated the victim’s allegations, according to the press release.
In 2019, the Maryland State Board of Dental Examiners suspended Semaie’s dental license for 30 days and placed him on two years of probation after a victim reported similar behavior, according to the state dental board’s consent order.
In 2018, the owner of the practice where Semaie worked reported to the dental board that Semaie allegedly massaged the breast of a female patient during a teeth cleaning. After the cleaning, Semaie purportedly texted the patient and asked her out for lunch, according to the order.
Though Semaie admitted to looking through the practice’s scheduling records and contacting the patient by phone and text, he denied inappropriately touching her, according to the order. No criminal charges were filed in the 2018 case, according to the press release.
Based on the 2018 suspension and current allegations, police believe Semaie may have other victims.
Semaie earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from West Virginia University. He is a member of the ADA, the Maryland State Dental Association, the Southern Maryland Dental Association, and the Academy of General Dentistry, according to his practice website. Further, Semaie is married with children, attends church weekly, and enjoys playing soccer, basketball, and tennis in his spare time, according to his website.
