Weight-Loss Doctor Gets Half His Bail Refunded in Indecent-Assault Case

Montgomery County will return $50,000 of the $100,000 bail Penn Valley resident and Conshohocken weight-loss doctor Arie Oren paid in full after he was charged with felony and misdemeanor indecent assault on six female patients.

The complaints allege Oren touched the women inappropriately several times, including on their genitals, at his Conshohocken Weight Control clinic. One of the complainants appeared at Thursday's preliminary hearing, willing to testify, but the hearing was waived and her testimony was not required.

Largely because Oren has surrendered his medical license and passport, District Judge Francis J. Bernhardt said, Oren's request for a lower bail to help him pay for his legal defense was granted. Assistant District Attorney Katherine E. McGill had requested that the lower bail payment at least be computed as 10 percent of a $500,000 liability, in case Oren would fail to appear at any point, but that request was declined.

Oren appeared with his attorneys Thursday afternoon in Bernhardt's Conshohocken courtroom, wearing a dark suit and carrying a brown leather briefcase. He spoke only to acknowledge Bernhardt when the judge asked whether he understood he might not have to appear at his June 1 arraignment in Norristown.

Oren faces four felony counts of aggravated indecent assault and seven misdemeanor counts of indecent assault. An eighth misdemeanor count was dropped Thursday because it falls outside the two-year statute of limitations.

It is not yet clear whether the case will go to trial, McGill said, but though she does not expect significant action in the case until the smmer, she said, "There's no reason to think it'll be a slow-moving case."

The assistant district attorney added that all six complainants are willing to testify.