Ex-doctor at Dayton Children's sentenced in sex case

Former Dayton Children’s Hospital Dr. Arun Aggarwal was sentenced Thursday to 10 months in prison and ordered to return to India upon his release after pleading guilty last week to four counts of gross sexual imposition stemming from allegations that the pediatric gastroenterologist inappropriately touched the breasts of two teenage female patients.

Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Mary Wiseman issued the sentence, which was in line with Aggarwal’s plea deal. He was given credit for the four months he has spent at the Montgomery County Jail with bail set at $500,000.

“(Aggarwal’s) main concern of course is getting back with his family, as well as…sparing the victims in this case further trauma of a trial. He has expressed to me his genuine remorse, his eagerness to get on with his life and rejoin his family,” said Aggarwal’s attorney, Samuel Shamansky, on behalf of his client, who declined to speak.

When he is released from prison, Aggarwal will have to register as a Tier 1 offender, meaning he will be unable to reside within 1,000 feet of a school, preschool or daycare and must register his address every year for 15 years.

But his plea deal requires him to either leave the country voluntarily or be deported. He is currently in the U.S. on a work visa.

“He came here to help people, and that’s not what happened. He took advantage of people,” said Assistant Montgomery County Prosecutor Leon Daidone.

INVESTIGATION: Records reveal hospital debate over sexual misconduct allegations

Aggarwal practiced at Dayton Children’s Hospital, but he was employed by Wright State University. He was hired in December 2013 and terminated by WSU in September 2015 after his hospital admitting privileges lapsed during the police investigation.

Aggarwal sued Wright State in federal court alleging he was fired without due process, and an arbitrator has ruled the university has to pay Aggarwal $91,799 because the school didn’t follow proper steps to fire him. The university may appeal the decision.

Daidone said after sentencing that hospital officials will not be charged with failing to report the crime.

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About the Author

Josh Sweigart

Josh Sweigart is an investigative reporter at the Dayton Daily News. His stories have focused on government waste, fraud, abuse and accountability in southwest Ohio, as well as the statehouse and U.S. Capitol.