PROVO -- A Utah County doctor made his first appearance in Provo's 4th District Court on Monday on charges of forcible sexual abuse, voyeurism and obstruction of justice for allegations that he sexually abused his employees.

Steven Pack, 51, appeared in court briefly with his attorney, Ron Yengich, in order to set a waiver hearing on the charges. He faces one to 15 years in prison for each of the two second-degree felony charges of forcible sexual abuse and one year in jail for each of the three other charges, all class A misdemeanors.

Pack will be in court next on Dec. 21 for a waiver hearing, said prosecutor Chad Grunander. Yengich declined to comment on the case.

Pack was originally arrested Aug. 27 on voyeurism accusations, and an investigation into the case turned up evidence of additional incidents. The 18- and 19-year-old women involved in the voyeurism allegations were employees at the medical center when the incidents happened in late July. Police said one of the women was a newer employee, and Pack told the pair he wanted to practice taking X-rays. The women were directed to an exam room to change for the X-rays, where one of them noticed a small, surveillance-type camera. She then presumably told the other woman, and they reported the incident to police.

Along with the criminal charges, Pack is now also faced with two lawsuits from former employees. In a new lawsuit filed Nov. 18, a former employee identified as "Jane Doe" accuses Pack of fondling her breasts.

According to the lawsuit, the young woman was employed by Pack at Mountain Medical Urgent Care in Lehi from February until June this year. As with the allegations in Pack's criminal case, the woman claims Pack assaulted her under the guise of testing medical equipment.

"During the first few weeks of plaintiff's employment at Mountain Medical, Pack requested that the plaintiff allow him to practice using the EKG machine on her," the lawsuit alleges. "Plaintiff repeatedly refused to allow Pack to use the EKG machine on her because the procedure would involve removing her shirt and bra."

Pack also allegedly touched the sides of the woman's chest, touching her breasts, when teaching her how to use an X-ray machine. According to the lawsuit, Pack asked the woman to come with him to an exam room in March 2009 to teach her how to use a pulse-oximeter. The woman reportedly was uncomfortable in the situation because training sessions were usually conducted at the nurses' station, not in exam rooms.

Once in the exam room, the woman began having chest pains as a result of an ongoing medical condition which was being treated by another doctor. Although she told Pack she was fine, he took out his stethoscope to listen to her heart and lungs, according to the lawsuit. Again, she allegedly told the doctor she was fine and did not need an exam, but Pack put his hand inside her shirt and bra and began to massage and grope the woman's chest.

"While massaging and groping plaintiff's breasts, Pack told plaintiff that although most guys become sexually aroused by breasts, Pack only thought of breasts as masses of flesh," the lawsuit alleges. "Pack also asked the plaintiff if she was sexually active."

The woman reportedly became uncomfortable and afraid and left the room, later telling co-workers what had happened. In June, she was terminated from her job, accused by Pack of accidentally over-medicating a patient, but the woman alleges Pack fired her to keep her from discussing the alleged assault.

Douglas Thayer, the attorney representing two women in their lawsuits against Pack, said damages have not been specified in the cases. Any amount awarded will be up to a jury and will factor in any medical expenses or emotional trauma caused by the allegations.

"They both are seeking help for the emotional issues and trying to move on with their lives," he said.

Thayer said he did not know whether the two women are at the heart of Pack's criminal case. He said he has reason to believe Pack may have numerous victims. Although Pack's criminal case has not been resolved, Thayer said he did not believe his clients need to wait for an outcome before pursuing a lawsuit. There is a lower standard of proof in civil cases, so Pack may be found not guilty in a criminal case, but still held accountable by a civil jury.

"We just don't see any value in waiting," he said.

Both of the women Thayer represents are between the ages of 18 and 20, he said, and were very naive and innocent before the alleged sexual abuse. They felt they needed to bring the allegations forward in order to prevent Pack from abusing other women, he said.

Related

• Lehi doctor charged with sex abuse