A dentist in Utah arrested for allegedly sending a high school senior improper texts and inappropriately touching her during a physical exam he wasn’t licensed to perform has been formally charged, according to a story published recently on KSL.
Dr. Robert Bruce Howell, 69, of Orem Pediatric Dentistry in Orem, UT, was charged on June 29 with object rape and forcible sexual abuse -- both of which are felonies -- and unlawful and professional conduct, a misdemeanor, according to the story.
Orem Pediatric Dentistry.
In November 2025, authorities began investigating Howell after a woman, who was a high school senior during the 2023-2024 school year, contacted police claiming that she and Howell began exchanging text messages shortly after she became an intern at his practice. The messages reportedly became personal quickly, and his alleged victim claimed that Howell used religion to manipulate her.
During the investigation, police found that 3,622 text messages were exchanged between Howell and the woman. Only a small percentage of the messages were specific to work-related topics, and the rest were personal.
During her internship, Howell bought hundreds of dollars’ worth of athletic equipment for the alleged victim, who was a high school athlete, police said. Before she started her school sports season, the woman needed to have a medical exam. Howell allegedly told her he could perform it for her.
In 2024, he performed the exam. She claimed that Howell inappropriately touched her during the exam.
When police questioned Howell, he purportedly admitted that his "exam" of the alleged victim included an examination of her breasts and genitals.
Also, when the dentist signed the high school athletic form, he checked a box attesting that he was a medical doctor and nurse practitioner. Furthermore, the pediatric dentist allegedly admitted to police that the exam he performed fell outside his professional license, according to the story.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
