BENTONVILLE — A former nurse pleaded not guilty Monday to charges he sexually assaulted four patients.
Mitchell Dee Atkins, 51, of Springdale is charged with four counts of sexual assault. He entered his plea at an arraignment before Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green. Atkins is accused of engaging in sexual contact with the women through force, according to court documents.
Atkins is free on $25,000 bond.
Atkins was arrested April 21 at the Decatur Medi-Clinic where he worked as a nurse practitioner. Two clinic patients allege Atkins touched them inappropriately when giving them shots, one on Feb. 24 and the other on April 17, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Sue Tedford, executive director of the Arkansas State Board of Nursing, said Atkins has surrendered his nursing license.
The women claimed Atkins touched them inappropriately when he gave them the shots with no other medical personnel present.
Atkins told police he gave the two patients shots in the buttocks, but denied he touched either patient sexually, according to the probable cause affidavit. Atkins told police he wasn’t “a sexual predator,” according to court documents.
Two other women came forward after Atkins’ arrest.
A omnibus hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 21.
Tracy M. Neal can be reached by email at [email protected] or Twitter @NWATracy.