BOUNTIFUL, Utah, July 20, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — A Bountiful doctor was booked Wednesday on seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor after a tip came to local authorities from search engine and email service Yahoo.
Nathan Clark Ward, 55, was booked into the Davis County Jail on the charges, second-degree felonies.
Yahoo sent information regarding images of child pornography being uploaded. An eight-month investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force followed, during which law enforcement authorities were able to gain more information from Yahoo.
The seven images are of children and adults in sexually suggestive poses and/or engaging in sexual activities.
The photos were uploaded to a Yahoo messenger account Ward initially denied was his, but which Utah authorities later learned contained his name, his birthday, his former address in Idaho, photos of family members, and a “selfie.”
The account also had instant messages of a sexually explicit nature, and connections to a Craigslist ad seeking sexual encounters. One message contained a phone number connected to Bountiful’s Lakeview Clinic, where Ward worked on contract as an Ob-Gyn.
Additional emails alluded to Ward having had sex with a 15-year-old girl he allegedly got drunk on vodka, and with a 13-year-old girl, the probable cause statement says.
The statement requested Ward remain incarcerated, without bail, saying, “There is a significant amount of other chats and emails that investigators need to review. Dr. Nathan Ward held a position of trust in the community as an OBGYN, where there is an expectation of safety. He has a high net worth and is a flight risk.”
Ward’s bail was set at $100,000. He bonded out Wednesday evening.
The Lakeview Clinic has removed its biography of Ward, which said he was a staff physician in the Air Force for 13 years, and called him a specialist in women’s healthcare, adding, “Dr. Ward is able to treat high risk pregnancies, infertility and all types of gynecological problems.”
I DON’T BELIEVE HE’S GUILTY! NOT EVEN FOR ONE MINUTE! Dr. Ward has been my Dr. since he started practicing in Davis county UT. He has always been a very caring person and has even been there for me when my other Dr’s weren’t. And as far as the lady on tv said that she thought there was something different about him. Well, she is just trying to get her fifteen minutes of fame at someone else’s expense. I wish Dr. Ward all of the LUCK in this creepy lying world!!! And as far as I’ve been told he doesn’t have privileges at St. Mark’s Hospital. I think someone is playing a really nasty joke!
Doctor ward has been my doctor for 11years now. He gave me the best 3days of my life, when I gave birth to my 3boys. There’s
No way I believe all this bull shit. If it is true I’m truly sorry for those who was affected. However I just can’t wrap my head around these charges. I pray to God that it’s not true. I love you so much doctor ward. I am praying for you. I love you. Thank you so much for all you have done for me and my family. You will always be in my heart. Kristy Miller