DENVER — A doctor who was initially arrested in March for sexual assault is now charged with 16 felony counts involving a total of 10 victims. Most of the women said they were given a drink before they blacked out, and some said they were sexually assaulted, an arrest affidavit says.
Denver Police arrested Stephen Matthews, 35, on March 22 for one assault. Last month, investigators asked for additional victims to come forward. On Monday, he was arrested outside a Denver courtroom where he was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the initial charges.
He is now charged with the following:
- Three counts of sexual assault – victim helpless
- One count of sexual assault – no consent, drugging
- Two counts of sexual assault – overcome will, drugging
- Three counts of sexual assault – victim incapable of appraising condition, drugging
- Seven counts of second-degree assault – drugging
Victims met Matthews through the dating apps Hinge or Tinder, and some of the alleged assaults date back to 2019.
According to the arrest affidavit from Denver Police, one victim was assaulted at Matthews' home on Jan. 29, after the two had gone to brunch. She reported that Matthews made her a drink and she began to feel "poorly." She said her next memory was being at her home talking to paramedics. She had no memory from about noon until almost 10 p.m., according to court documents.
She reported that she later learned she had taken an Uber home and called several people including a friend and her sister, who were concerned about her well being because she was not making sense on the phone. They came over to check on her and called paramedics.
The victim also recalled having "hickies" on her chest that she did not have prior to blacking out.
Police contacted Mathews, who admitted he had been with the victim but said they had consensual sex after the woman had a "larger" mimosa and two shots of tequila, the affidavit says.
Five days after Matthews' March arrest, another victim came forward with a similar story. She reported that Matthews made her a drink and she drank part of it and was "off balance." She said she blacked out and had little memory of what happened afterward. She said she believed she was sexually assaulted but has no memory of it.
Another woman reported that when she told Matthews she would not meet him again, he sent her photos of her naked in his hot tub.
In April, a woman came forward to report she met Matthews on Hinge in February, the affidavit says. She reported that they went to his residence and he tried to give her a drink which she declined.
She reported that Matthews got "touchy" in the hot tub and she felt uncomfortable and left. She said she later realized that Matthews was the person who had sexually assaulted her friend three years earlier, the affidavit says.
Matthews is a cardiologist in the Denver metro area. His license says he practices at seven offices. There are no records of discipline on his license to be a physician.
Matthews was released from jail March 23 after posting $50,000 bond, according to court records. He was booked into the Denver jail again on Monday.
He's due back in Denver District court May 17 at 1:30 p.m.
Anyone who believes that they may have been a victim of Matthews is encouraged to call the Denver Police Sex Crimes Unit at 720-913-6040.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Latest from 9NEWS