A Conway doctor who was acquitted of eight sexual assault counts in 2018 had several remaining felony charges dropped on Thursday morning after the prosecution decided the trial process would be too much for a woman who was set to testify, officials said.
Dr. Robert Rook, 63, was on trial in Faulkner County Circuit Court when the state moved to drop eight remaining sexual-assault counts against him because of a situation involving a victim's testimony, Judge Charles Clawson Jr. said.
“At this point he can’t be tried again for those charges,” Clawson said. “Jeopardy has been applied because a jury was attached. The trial is over.”
Special prosecutor Jason Barrett said the case against Rook has been difficult for everyone involved.
“The investigation and lengthy prosecution were based upon statements of many brave women who came forward to tell their accounts of abuse they suffered at the hands of Dr. Rook,” he said in a news release. “Today the last of those ladies decided she could not fight any further.”
Barrett said he made the decision that it wouldn’t be in her best interest, both mentally and physically, to testify. As a result of that decision, the case against Rook was concluded.
“Despite this outcome, the State stands by the decision to file charges in this case,” he said. “From the beginning, we believe the accounts of the ladies who came forward, and today we still believe them. Although this result is not what we had hoped for, there is honor in the fight for justice. For almost four years, these ladies fought for what they believed in, and we feel honored to have fought beside them.”
In June 2018, a jury acquitted Rook of eight sexual-assault counts. The jury could not reach a verdict on eight other counts, and Clawson declared a mistrial on those charges.
Special prosecutor Jason Barrett at that time informed Clawson he intended to pursue the remaining charges: five counts of second-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree sexual assault.
Rook was arrested and charged in 2016 after accusations by some of his former patients.