A dentist in the United States has been sentenced to an effective life behind bars after being convicted of a horrific campaign of sexual assaults against his own patients and staff members, with some attacks occurring during dental treatment.
A Practice of Predation
Joseph Clarence Cox, aged 44, was handed a staggering cumulative prison term of 180 years by an Alabama judge. This follows his conviction in January by a local jury on multiple charges including first-degree rape, sodomy, and sexual abuse. The crimes took place at his own dental surgery, which he founded in 2017.
Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith of Etowah County confirmed that Cox was arrested in April 2021 after an investigation by the Gadsden Police Department. Evidence presented at trial revealed a disturbingly high staff turnover between June 2020 and April 2021, directly linked to the dentist's predatory sexual behaviour towards employees.
Victims' Harrowing Testimonies
During the week-long trial, the jury heard chilling accounts from multiple victims. Eight former employees testified about repeated sexual abuse by Cox during normal office hours. Two of those employees described incidents that escalated from inappropriate touching to forcible rape and sodomy.
Perhaps most shockingly, three former patients took the stand to describe how Cox subjected them to sexual contact while he was actively performing their dental procedures. Their testimonies painted a picture of a man who exploited his position of trust and authority in the most vile manner imaginable.
The jury ultimately found Cox guilty of two counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy, and eight counts of first-degree sexual abuse.
Maximum Sentence for Maximum Harm
At the sentencing hearing, Circuit Judge George Day condemned Cox's actions, stating the dentist had treated his workplace "like his personal playground" and showed "no respect for any woman" who entered his office. The judge imposed a 25-year sentence for each rape and sodomy conviction, and a 10-year sentence for each sexual abuse conviction.
Critically, Judge Day ordered that all sentences run consecutively, not concurrently. He stated that allowing the terms to run at the same time would not deliver proper justice for the 12 known victims. This decision resulted in the monumental 180-year total, ensuring Cox will spend the rest of his life in prison.
The case also uncovered a troubling past. Cox had previously admitted to three counts of harassment in Dekalb County in 2012 following similar allegations. For those offences, he received only probation and a six-month suspension of his dental licence.
