AMERICAN FORK — An American Fork chiropractor convicted by a jury Tuesday of two felonies for sexually abusing a former patient and employee will never again be allowed to treat clients in Utah, state officials said.

"He's not going to get his license back in the state of Utah, period," F. David Stanley, director of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing, said of former chiropractor Grant Hildreth. "The board was pretty adamant when they saw the nature of the crime. That kind of crime doesn't fit well with our board people. We just can't tolerate that happening."

Hildreth, 45, was arrested in June after his former secretary — the woman whose counts Hildreth was convicted on — went to police with concerns that she had been assaulted during treatment procedures.

When the case hit the news, three other female patients came forward with concerns of similar abuse.

After a weeklong trial and nearly 12 hours of deliberation, an eight-member jury convicted Hildreth on the secretary's charges but dismissed four charges representing the three other women.

However, those women aren't bitter, said prosecutor Alex Ludlow.

"Their main concern (was) that this had happened to them, in their minds, and they were afraid it could happen to other people," he said.

That is DOPL's concern as well, which is why Stanley said they handle these cases so decisively.

"Every single professional board has ethic boundaries," Stanley said. "And they all know what they are. They must be ever vigilant that they do not cross those boundaries ...(or) they will be in trouble, and be in serious trouble with DOPL."

Hildreth will be sentenced May 2 and each of the two charges carries the possibility of one to 15 years in prison. Ludlow said the state has three other charges representing two other women, which although they were severed from this trial, are still pending.

Defense attorney Carolyn Howard said she was pleased with the four acquittals, although she and her client had hoped for all six.

They consider this a win, but still plan to appeal the conviction.

"He feels that he is innocent of the two charges, and he is going to spend whatever time is required to appeal those charges and have them overturned," Howard said.

She focused her closing arguments on the three women, who had gone to see Hildreth complaining of pain in the areas where they later alleged the abuse.

"All of these techniques, all are within the chiropractic guidelines," Howard said.

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