This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Bail has been reduced for an Ogden child psychiatrist who is accused of accessing child pornography through his work computer at an Ogden hospital.
David F. Wilson, 42, was charged last week in 2nd District Court with 15 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony.
On Tuesday, he appeared in an Ogden courthouse in shackles, wearing an orange jumpsuit. During his appearance, his attorney, Kevin Vander Werff, asked 2nd District Judge Scott Hadley to reduce the $150,000 bail set for Wilson.
"Because of these charges, it impedes his ability to work," Vander Werff told the judge, adding that Wilson was fired from his job and lost his license because of the investigation. "He needs to be able to be out and supporting his family."
Vander Werff asked the bail to be reduced to $25,000 to $50,000.
Deputy Weber County Attorney Letitia Toombs asked for bail to remain the same, telling the judge that it was a standard bail amount for the charges that he's facing.
"There is no reason to deviate [from standard bail,]" she told the judge. "There are hundreds of people in the same situation, and they don't get special treatment."
Ultimately, Hadley did lower the bail to $100,000.
Earlier this year, the Intermountain Healthcare information systems security department discovered a computer was being used to access the pornography, according to a Weber County Sheriff's Office news release. Upon learning it was Wilson's computer at McKay-Dee Hospital, Intermountain immediately fired him on April 30 and reported the incident to law enforcement and the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, the release adds.
After analyzing the computer hard drive, the Weber County Sheriff's Office arrested Wilson.
There is no evidence "that indicates any risk to Dr. Wilson's patients," according to a statement from the hospital. Wilson began working at McKay-Dee on July 19, 2011.
The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing announced Monday that it suspended Wilson's physician licenses in an emergency hearing held Aug. 27. Authorities discovered hundreds of images depicting child pornography on Wilson's work computer, a release from the division adds.
"David Wilson was treating vulnerable children all while viewing child pornography on his work computer," Francine Giani, executive director of the Utah Department of Commerce, said in a statement. "The Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing felt his actions posed an immediate threat to public safety so swift action was necessary."
Wilson was also an osteopathic physician. Wilson had been licensed to practice as an osteopathic physician in Utah since Aug. 9, 2011. His ability to practice psychiatry was within the realm of his osteopathic license, said commerce department spokeswoman Jennifer Bolton.
Wilson will be back in court again on Oct. 22.
Twitter: @jm_miller