A depraved dentist has been sentenced to a substantial prison term after being found guilty of sexually assaulting and mistreating staff and patients at his dental clinic, some of whom were assaulted during their appointments.
Joseph Clarence Cox, aged 44, received a 180-year sentence for his abhorrent actions following a trial where he was convicted of rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse involving former employees and patients.
Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith of Etowah County disclosed that Cox was arrested in April 2021 after a thorough investigation by the Gadsden Police Department in Alabama. The trial uncovered a significant turnover in his staff due to his inappropriate sexual behavior, as reported by Mirror US.
Testimonies from eight former employees detailed numerous instances of sexual abuse by Cox during office hours, with two employees revealing incidents of rape and sodomy.
Additionally, three former patients testified that Cox engaged in sexual misconduct during their dental procedures. Their disturbing encounters were shared in court.
Cox was found guilty by a jury on multiple charges, including first-degree rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse after a week-long trial, as per ABC reports.
In 2012, Cox had previously admitted to harassment charges in Dekalb County, resulting in probation and a suspension of his dental license for six months.
During sentencing, Circuit Judge George Day condemned Cox for his disregard for women in his workplace, likening it to a personal playground. Cox was handed a 25-year prison term for each first-degree rape and sodomy charge.
Furthermore, he was sentenced to ten years in state prison for each first-degree sexual abuse count. The judge ordered these sentences to be served consecutively, totaling 180 years in prison, as concurrent sentencing was deemed inadequate for the victims.