Stephen Matthews handcuffed outside courtroom, Denver cardiologist jailed on new charges
Denver cardiologist Stephen Matthews was arrested outside a Denver courtroom Monday morning and prosecutors say he is being charged in nine new criminal cases, bringing the total number of his alleged victims to 10.
The 35-year-old had previously been charged in just one case. Police handcuffed Matthews and took him directly to the Denver Jail.
His attorney, Doug Cohen, said Matthews is innocent and called the multitude of cases "a rush to judgment."
"My client is innocent until proven guilty," said Cohen.
Matthews had previously been facing three felony sex assault charges in relation to a single alleged date rape that occurred in January.
In that case, Matthews said he had "consensual sex" with a woman he met on the Hinge dating app. But the woman said after drinking with Matthews, she had no recollection of having sex with him and did not consent to engaging in sex. She said she is convinced she was drugged and pressed charges with Denver police. In follow-up reporting, CBS News Colorado found several other women recounting similar encounters with Matthews.
Monday morning, he was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in that initial case from January. But before any proceedings began, as Matthews was outside the courtroom talking to his family Denver police showed up, handcuffed Matthews and led him away to the Denver City Jail.
Carolyn Tyler, a spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney's Office, confirmed that nine more alleged victims had come forward in recent weeks and Matthews was being charged in relation to those women. She said arrest documents in those cases were currently sealed.
Court records obtained by CBS News Colorado show that two of the new cases involve alleged sex assault while the other seven are second degree assault cases in which Matthews is charged with drugging victims.
The first woman who came forward and accused Matthews of sexually assaulting her while she was incapacitated said of the new cases, "This was not a rush to judgment. It's very clear he is a dangerous person who needs to be held accountable."
She said she was "proud of the other women stepping up to do the right thing -- I applaud them for that."
Matthews' attorney believed the courthouse arrest was unnecessary.
"What they did was nothing more than a public spectacle," said Cohen. "It's something they did not have to do. They had him arrested right in the hallway and that was not necessary for public safety or any other reason than to create a public spectacle."
Also on Monday, Denver police descended on Matthews' west Denver townhouse, apparently executing a search warrant. Investigators could be seen searching the home and removing multiple bags of evidence.
Court records indicate Matthews will appear in court again Tuesday to be advised on the new charges.
Matthews holds a Colorado medical license which is active and lists no disciplinary actions. His license lists affiliation with five Colorado hospitals and indicates he practices medicine at seven Front Range offices.
