Jury Deliberates Chiropractor Sex Assault Charges

Dr .David Russell is accused of sexually abusing several female patients

A Collin County jury on Tuesday began deliberating sexual assault charges against a McKinney chiropractor who is accused of assaulting several of his patients.

Dr. David Russell is charged with 12 counts of sexual misconduct with five female patients, four of them teenagers.

During their deliberation, the jury came back and asked a couple of questions related to victim testimony, NBC 5's Randy McIlwain reported Tuesday afternoon.

Aggravated sexual assault of a child is the most serious charge. If there is not sufficient evidence to support the other charge, the jury will consider a charge of indecency with a child by contact.

The judge last week tossed out one count of indecency with a child because of insufficient evidence.

During closing arguments, prosecutors argued that the patients' stories are too detailed and similar to simply be made up.

One victim testified that Russell had touched her breasts and commented on her underwear during a treatment session. During another session, he inappropriately touched her private parts, putting a finger inside her vagina, she said.

Another victim shared a similar story.

Also Monday morning, the prosecution introduced three rebuttal witnesses, all adult women who said Russell made inappropriate advances toward them while they were patients in his care.

No charges were filed in those cases because the statute of limitations had expired before they came forward.

Russell and his defense team have denied much of the testimony, adding that it is possible for a chiropractor's hand to make accidental, brushing contact to the area the women described when treating a groin injury.

During closing arguments, the defense said McKinney police made Russell "public enemy No. 1" when he was arrested.

Defense attorney Todd Shapiro said a floodgate of accusers opened up when his client was arrested and his mug shot was released. Shapiro said there is no direct evidence that Russell did anything wrong, saying that only one witness to any alleged misconduct testified during the trial.

Russell did not testify in his own defense.

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