Lawsuit alleging money for gay sex settled out of court
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Rye
A lawsuit alleging gay sex for money filed by a young male patient against a Springdale dermatologist and the clinic he used to work for has been settled.
Bruce Rye, 46, is accused in the lawsuit of having sex with and inappropriately touching a patient he befriended between November 2006 and March 2008. The accuser was 16 when they met at Northwest Dermatology Clinic.
Rye has not worked at the clinic for two years, a receptionist said Tuesday.
Criminal charges of sexual assault in the first degree filed in Washington County against Rye will not be prosecuted because the complaining witness has become uncooperative, said Mark Booher, 4 th Judicial District deputy prosecutor.
Rye still faces criminal charges in Boone County involving incidents involving the accuser that apparently happened in Harrison. Rye is charged with two count of first degree sexual assault and engaging children in sexually explicit conduct.
"Our charges are still pending," said Wes Bradford, Boone County deputy prosecutor.
The Boone County case is set for trial on Oct. 27, he said.
The accuser and his mother filed the lawsuit against Rye on Feb. 20 seeking damages for the alleged sexual assault, battery and emotional duress.
A motion for voluntary non-suit and dismissal was filed Monday by the plaintiff. A non-suit typically means that the case has been settled out of court and the terms of the confidential settlement will not be filed in public records.
The accuser told Springdale police that he was seeking treatment for acne when he met Rye in the fall of 2006. Rye and the boy had a discussion about being gay, the affidavit said.
Rye is accused in the lawsuit of asking the nurse to leave the room and then touching the boy in an inappropriate manner.
He is further accused of getting the patient's telephone number from his confidential files to make further contact.
A week or two later, Rye reportedly called the boy and offered him money for sex. The accuser told police they had anal and oral sex for money twice in Harrison when he was 16.
In January 2007, the victim and a friend went to Springdale to meet with Rye. The accuser told police Rye bought him a fake identification card so they could drink together at clubs.
In mid-March 2007, when the accuser was kicked out of his home, Rye came and picked him up. Rye then furnished an apartment for him and paid him $ 1, 000 per month, according to an affidavit.
Booher said Tuesday he believes that Rye has moved to Missouri.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
