Extra alleged victims come ahead after Houston-based touring veterinarian charged with sexual battery of a minor, lawyer says

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A touring veterinarian primarily based in Houston was charged with sexual battery of a minor final month in Florida. The lawyer representing the sufferer mentioned extra alleged victims are coming ahead.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office mentioned 52-year-old Gregory Ford was arrested for sexual battery of a sufferer between 16 and 17 years of age in September.

The legal grievance mentioned the teenager’s mom filed a report with a sheriff’s workplace in Alabama about her daughter having a sexual relationship with Ford.

According to the mom, her daughter began working at his veterinarian apply when she turned 15 years outdated.

Attorney Spencer Kuvin, the chief authorized officer and litigation director at GOLDLAW, mentioned he is representing the sufferer.

“Dr. Ford was actually very good friends with the parents of this young girl,” Kuvin mentioned. “It’s one of the reasons why the parents felt comfortable with having their child, who at the time was 16, intern with Dr. Ford and travel with him on occasion to go to these different events so that she could get trained as a veterinary technician.”

The affidavit described Ford as a touring veterinarian specializing in efficiency horse care, along with his apply primarily based in Houston.

The legal grievance mentioned he traveled to exhibits, races, and occasions in a number of states, together with Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Missouri, Alabama and Mississippi.

” Dr. Ford was heavily involved in the barrel racing world,” Kuvin mentioned. “He would travel and he would have one or two or maybe even three young girls that would go and assist and become veterinary technicians for the show.”

Kuvin mentioned the teenager’s mom went by means of her daughter’s cellphone and located sexually specific texts between the teenager and Ford. The legal grievance mentioned the daughter allegedly admitted to regulation enforcement that she and Ford had intercourse three or 4 occasions.

“Initially, the young girl thought she was in love. So, she was upset at her mother. She was mad. She was scared. She was frustrated,” Kuvin mentioned. “Her anger turned away from her mother and toward Dr. Ford, realizing what he had done and how he had manipulated her.”

Because of the touring nature of his occupation, regulation enforcement mentioned they believed there could also be extra victims throughout the nation.

Since Ford was charged, Kuvin mentioned he is personally spoken to at the very least 4 different victims from completely different states.

“Through our discussions with the FBI, who are continuing this investigation and the hotline that they’ve set up, we’ve uncovered that there could be upwards of anywhere between 12 to 15 potential victims of Dr. Ford over the years,” Kuvin mentioned.

Authorities haven’t confirmed to ABC13 every other victims or expenses towards Ford but.

“There were a number of young girls that were receiving the exact same messaging from Dr. Ford,” Kuvin mentioned.

In a part of a press release despatched to ABC13, allegedly written by {the teenager} on this case, she mentioned, “What should have been a positive, career-building experience was turned into something deeply damaging and harmful.”

Kuvin mentioned victims in these sorts of instances can generally blame themselves for the state of affairs and never need to speak about what’s occurred.

“While you might feel guilty and you might feel upset about what happened and feel like there’s some blame on you, there’s not,” Kuvin mentioned. “It’s not your fault.”

Kuvin mentioned Ford’s arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 28. Currently, Ford remains to be in jail in Florida.