A Bountiful doctor has been taken into custody in connection with an investigation involving child pornography. Nathan Clark Ward, 55, is facing seven counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. He was taken into custody Wednesday by the Davis County Sheriff's Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children task force. The arrest comes as the result of an extensive 8-month investigation into the doctor.
The investigation began in November of 2016, when possible sexually exploitative images of children were found to have been uploaded at a Bountiful hospital. As the investigation unfolded an email address dating back to 2002 was connected to Ward, in which the "friends" link coupled with the account included names "associated with sexual meanings." According to a probable cause booking report the sheriff's office is investigating online conversations where Ward allegedly discussed raping young girls, ages 13 and 15, and also describes his "desire to rape females and minors."
So far no criminal charges have been filed against Ward. He did, however, make his bail payment and is free for now. Prosecutors had requested bail be denied given Ward's high net worth making him a possible flight risk. The hospital at which Ward worked issued a brief statement stating that he has been suspended from the facility and that all efforts were being made to provide care to his former patients.
Photo courtesy of Davis County Jail