A Denver cardiologist who was charged with sexual assault after an alleged date rape now faces 16 felony counts involving ten women, prosecutors said.
Stephen Matthews, 35, was arrested March 22 for allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a woman, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office. Matthews was charged with three felonies in that case.
On April 18, Denver police investigators announced that they had information indicating that Matthews was allegedly involved in multiple incidents and police asked that anyone who believed they were victimized to come forward. The request generated calls from an additional nine women, according to the DA’s news release.
Initial charges against Matthews have been folded into a new criminal case, alleging 16 felony counts involving ten victims, the release said. Matthews was arrested on Monday in connection to the new case and new charges.
Matthews is now charged with 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 appraising condition, drugging; and seven counts of second-degree assault – drugging.
According to an arrest affidavit, Matthews met some victims at restaurants on dates and afterward took them to his home where they got into a hot tub and Matthews allegedly made drinks spiked with drugs. He then allegedly attacked the women.
One victim told investigators that after a drink she “blacked out.” The women told investigators similar accounts of what happened to them after going to Matthews’ uptown home, according to the affidavit. One woman said she had no memory over about a ten-hour span and “she had no idea how she got home.”
After a drink, one woman recalled vomiting and then curling up in bed in a fetal position in Matthews’ home, the affidavit said. She then recalled waking up with Matthews at her home, but she had no idea how they got there. When the woman declined to meet Matthews again, he allegedly sent the victim nude photographs of her.
Some of the victims said they met Matthews on a dating app. One of the complaints dates to an alleged incident on Oct. 30, 2019, while some of the allegations are from earlier this year. Some victims sought medical help and documentation after the incidents.
A licensed cardiologist affiliated with several hospitals in metro Denver, Matthews has said, through an attorney, that the sex was consensual.
Matthews is scheduled for an advisement hearing on Wednesday afternoon in Denver District Court.
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