HOUSTON — Prosecutors provided more details about two men accused of running an unlicensed dentist office in southwest Houston.
One of them was accused of providing dental services illegally for two decades.
According to court documents, the men practiced out of an office located in a building off Westpark. Both were due in court Wednesday, however only one appeared before a judge.
KHOU 11 News was the only news crew to get video of 52-year-old Alberto Flores as he walked into the courtroom on Wednesday, a day after he bonded out of jail.
Prosecutors said Flores practiced dentistry without a license for the past five years. He claimed he was licensed out of Mexico.
Flores' lawyer said his client denies the allegations and they have evidence and discovery they need to go through the court process.
"So, is he denying that he practiced without a license?” KHOU 11 reporter Michelle Choi asked.
"Yes," Flores' attorney, Hector Sanchez, said.
Meanwhile, Flores' business partner, 51-year-old Jose Uzeta, is accused of practicing dentistry without a license for 20 years.
"We have no idea how many folks in Harris County have been harassed, assaulted by these men with no license and no authority to practice dental procedures on them," Harris County District Attorney's Office prosecutor Michael Haddad said.
Uzeta didn't appear before a judge Wednesday morning due to his case being transferred to another court, but he did appear before a judge in probable cause court Tuesday, where it was revealed that the two men met at a dentist school in Mexico.
Prosecutors said Uzeta admitted he wasn't licensed in the State of Texas and knew it was illegal to practice dentistry without a license. The two men weren't discovered and arrested until earlier this week when Houston police showed up to investigate a report of sexual assault.
Prosecutors said a patient Uzeta had been treating for over a year claimed he touched her inappropriately during an appointment for her braces. Uzeta is also facing an indecent assault charge.
Prosecutors believe Uzeta was likely paid in cash and possibly other forms of payment.
"The defendant was found with condoms in the room (office), so we don't know what other kind of payments were being received for his services. Again, this is all likely under the table, so this all has to come out through an investigation and through victims telling us what happened to them," Haddad said.
Prosecutors said they think there could be more victims and are working closely with HPD.
"I'd like the community in Harris County to know we're not taking these kinds of cases lightly, and we won't stand for people taking advantage of the underprivileged in Harris County and we will obtain justice in this case with Mr. Flores and Mr. Uzeta," Haddad said.
Uzeta was given a $50,000 bond during his initial hearing, but at last check, remained in jail.