A former chiropractor charged with multiple counts of sexual assault now faces eight additional charges, bringing the total number of charges to 17.
Jeffrey C. Fultz, 58, was initially indicted for first-degree harassment and second-degree sexual assault on April 8.
As of June 24, the former SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium employee faces a third round of additional charges, after a June 4 indictment added more. The latest round of charges bring five new witnesses, for a total of 12 witnesses at this time.
The charges all stem from actions alleged to have occurred between 2014 and 2020, when Fultz was offered the opportunity to resign from SEARHC as the criminal investigation became known, according to court documents. Fultz left the organization and moved to New Mexico.
SEARHC is an Alaska Native-run nonprofit health consortium that serves communities in Southeast Alaska. The Juneau Empire previously leased office space for its editorial, advertising and circulation departments from SEARHC. The Empire still leases space from SEARHC for its press operations.
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“The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) is aware that Jeffrey Fultz, a federal employee who provided chiropractic care at SEARHC, has been charged with multiple counts of sexual assault and harassment for actions that allegedly occurred at SEARHC facilities,” said SEARHC senior director of lands and property management Maegan Bosak in a statement. “SEARHC terminated Fultz’ assignment following patient complaints about inappropriate conduct. Fultz no longer has any affiliation with SEARHC.”
The organization is cooperating fully with the investigation, Bosak said. Matthew Ione, SEARHC Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, also had a statement.
“SEARHC does not tolerate any form of assault, harassment or offensive behavior. We encourage anyone who has information about these allegations to contact the authorities,” Ione said. “Due to the ongoing criminal prosecution, we cannot say anything more about this specific matter. But we want to assure our patients that they have the right to safe health care at SEARHC. We will do everything in our power to assure that is the case. There are no exceptions.”
Fultz’s conditions of release include a $25,000 bail, a $15,000 performance bond, and being forbidden from leaving the country or practicing any kind of chiropractor or massage work.
Prosecutors sought to have Fultz extradited to Lemon Creek Correctional Center on a June 14 bail review hearing after the second round of charges was announced and the breadth of Fultz’s alleged offenses expanded, which was not granted at that time.
• Contact reporter Michael S. Lockett at (757) 621-1197 or mlockett@juneauempire.com.
