More than 20 additional potential victims have come forward since the arrest of a man who posed as a doctor and ran a fake medical clinic, court records show.
In a series of new court filings, prosecutors also said Craig Allen Scherf faces a presumptive prison sentence of 15.75 years.
“The allegations in this case evidence the Defendant’s willingness to manipulate, lie, and mislead purely for his own financial gain,” wrote Assistant Attorney General Adam Schwartz.
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Scherf was arrested on March 19 and charged with 29 criminal counts.
The arrest follows an undercover ABC15 investigation that exposed Scherf illegally running a clinic and performing multiple medical and cosmetic procedures without a license.
Prosecutors included new details about their case against Scherf in response to a defense motion to reduce the bond amount. The state is challenging a reduction and has asked a judge to consider increasing the amount because of Scherf’s criminal history and flight risk.
Among the risk factors listed by prosecutors:
- There’s substantial evidence of Scherf’s guilt. “Numerous victims have come forward and continue to come forward with independent but consistent stories regarding the Defendant’s misrepresentations and ‘treatments.’ His office was filled with fake documents and medical paraphernalia.”
- The Defendant’s willingness to contact and intimidate victims. “One victim spoke on camera with a local news network about his experience with ‘Dr. Craig.’ After the networked aired that interview, the Defendant called the victim on the telephone asking if he ‘had fun’ on television and then hung up.”
- Scherf’s criminal past. “Given the Defendant has two historical prior felony convictions, a trial conviction would result in a mandatory prison sentence with a presumptive term of 15.75 years. As such, should the Defendant be released, he has a strong incentive to flee.”
READ THE STATE’S MOTION BELOW:
MTM Response by Dave Biscobing on Scribd
Contact ABC15 investigator Dave Biscobing at dbiscobing@abc15.com.
