The Arkansas State Medical Board on Thursday heard nine hours of testimony regarding a Little Rock physician who has been accused of sexual abuse and improper opioid prescriptions.

The hearing of Dr. Alonzo Williams, a gastroenterologist and medical director of the Arkansas Diagnostic Center, will continue Friday with additional witnesses. The medical board is also expected to make a decision in the case, whether it be disciplinary or otherwise.

Little Rock gastroenterologist has 30-year history of complaints against him, records show

Williams has been accused of a range of wrongdoing over the past 30 years, including questionable medical care and sexual misconduct. According to an Advocate analysis of documents obtained through the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act, the medical board has received about two dozen complaints about Williams since 1993.

None of the previous complaints have resulted in disciplinary action.

Williams appeared before the board Thursday with his attorney Kevin O’Dwyer, who formerly served as the medical board’s legal counsel. The attorney general’s office represented the board.

The first day of the hearing included testimony from 10 witnesses who ranged from a drug control investigator, an experienced gastroenterologist, former and current employees of Williams’ and patients who have received care from the Little Rock physician.

Witnesses called by the state largely discussed Williams’ practice habits, which they said included prescriptions for controlled substances, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone and Xanax, despite reportedly knowing risks to patients and having at least one patient who tested positive for cocaine.

The state also argued Williams conducted some procedures at a concerning frequency, including biopsies and an esophagus examination called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy, or EGD, which can also include a dilation that stretches a patient’s narrow esophagus to help with swallowing.

Among a sample of six of Williams’ patients, records showed he sometimes performed EGDs every month of the year. In one case, Williams performed three sedated procedures in the same month, Michael Lewis with the attorney general’s office said.

Eduardo deMondesert, the state’s expert witness in gastroenterology, said the records he reviewed showed vague indications that Williams’ patients needed the procedures he consistently conducted.

With nearly 30 years of experience in the field, deMondesert also said if an EGD and dilation didn’t prove to relieve a patient’s symptoms the first time, it shouldn’t be done again. He said repeatedly falling below a standard of care as set forth by disciplinary guidelines, and thus putting patients at risk of harm, is gross negligence.

The witnesses who were patients of Williams’ spoke very highly of the care they have received. Williams’ attorney also argued the patient records the medical board reviewed accounted for a small percentage of the physician’s total patient population and represented “extreme outliers.”

One witness stated that she has needed a dilation completed every three weeks for the last three years or she will struggle to swallow, breathe, talk and work with the pain she experiences. The woman said the chronic issue has prompted her to often seek care at emergency rooms, but the staff always refers her back to Williams.

Kim Graves, another patient of Williams’ who testified, said she has been receiving care from the physician for about 15 years. She receives a dilation about once a year and also visits Williams for her colonoscopies. 

The patients expressed a high degree of trust in Williams’ medical opinion.

Sexual abuse allegations

Though she was absent Thursday, attorneys and witnesses made several references to a former employee of Williams’ who accused him of sexual abuse.

Bradley Diner, a state-called witness who works with the Arkansas Medical Foundation, testified that he recently met with Williams to address the possibility of a sexual compulsive disorder. In the 1980s and again in the 1990s, Williams had previous allegations brought against him.

Diner said he could not come to a conclusion whether Williams had a sex-related problem, and he recommended that a further evaluation be completed. Diner said Williams rejected such an evaluation.

Diner said he was also unable to ascertain whether the sexual abuse complaint brought by Williams’ former employee, Rachael Hudspeth, was true or false.

A number of witnesses for Williams testified about Hudspeth’s behavior and referred to her as someone who was “hypersexual.” As her former coworkers, the witnesses said Hudspeth often talked about her relationships and personal life in professional settings. Hudspeth also allegedly touched at least one of her coworkers inappropriately at work and touched her breasts to at least one patient.

The witnesses said they did not file any complaints about Hudspeth with the clinic’s human resources office, stating that she was a friend and they all wanted to help her get her life on the right track. 

Hudspeth’s exit from the workplace was described as “storming out.” Suzette Siegler, a witness on Thursday and Williams’ nurse manager, found evidence after Hudspeth left that she had altered medical charts that were in Williams’ name. Siegler said she checked due to suspicions about Hudspeth’s behavior. 

Questioning by Jordan Broyles from the attorney general’s office revealed that Siegler, who signed an affidavit affirming she had collected all available records requested by board investigators, had not provided some from the clinic’s surgery center.

The hearing will begin again at 8 a.m. Friday.

FAYETTEVILLE — Down two of its headliners, Arkansas wide receivers had an opportunity to step up during a scrimmage Thursday.

Andrew Armstrong (hamstring) and Tyrone Broden (turf toe), who figure to play a major role this season, did not participate in the scrimmage due to minor injuries.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman seemed unworried about the injuries his team is dealing with during a post-scrimmage news conference. He said none appear to be long-term issues and were largely precautionary.

A byproduct of Armstrong and Broden missing the nearly 150-snap scrimmage was increased reps for others in the largely unproven receiver room.

Pittman pointed to potential positives of holding players out.

“I’m not worried about any of [the injured] guys,” Pittman said, later adding, “You don’t want to put a guy in that’s a two that you’re looking at the first time against the ones in a live situation. We looked at it as much as we could as a positive and I felt like we came out of the scrimmage that way.”

Perhaps no player capitalized on the situation more than redshirt sophomore Isaiah Sategna, who has emerged as the likely slot receiver starting along Armstrong and Broden.

Sategna racked up 110 yards on two plays early in the scrimmage — a first-play, 45-yard post route before a 65-yard touchdown strike down the right sideline. He later caught a 20-yard pass.

The connection between Sategna and starting quarterback Taylen Green has appeared strong in fall practices. It may have taken some time to get that way.

“It’s always hard at first whenever I have a new quarterback just for him to get my speed right and stuff,” said Sategna, who was the nation’s No. 4 track and field prospect for the class of 2022. “Taylen has a really big arm, so it wasn’t a problem for him.”

Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino has long held a “feed the studs” coaching ideology. Sategna seems to have worked his name into that category.

But who’s behind Armstrong, Broden and Sategna has been a bit more mysterious leading up to the season. The receiver room has a batch of other players who could work their way into meaningful time on the field this fall.

Isaac TeSlaa started all 12 games a year ago and is being asked to play in the slot this season, receivers coach Ronnie Fouch said earlier this week. Jaedon Wilson has worked with the first team some in the preseason, along with freshman CJ Brown.

The minor injuries to Armstrong and Broden have allowed that group to get additional live reps with Green, something that could benefit long-term chemistry.

“In practice we do a great job of getting chemistry with everybody,” Green said. “I’m not going to sit here and say it’s not different [without Armstrong and Broden]. Of course there’s a difference, but our coaching staff does a great job of everybody getting reps.”

Two more wideouts may have gained some trust Thursday.

Pittman noted sophomore Davion Dozier had a strong showing, along with Monte Harrison, the former MLB player who on Saturday will turn 29.

Dozier had touchdown receptions of 35 and 12 yards on passes from back-up quarterback Malachi Singleton.

“Dozier, he made some big catches,” Green said. “What’s really stuck out has been his receiving after the catch and just knowing what to do with the ball and his opportunities.”

Later in the scrimmage Singleton found Harrison for a 55-yard touchdown on a busted play.

“Monte Harrison caught some balls today and turned up and ran pretty well with it,” Pittman said. “He’s going to help us. He’s a good kid, good young man.”

While seeing two playmakers sidelined is never a welcomed sight, it provided a chance for Green to gain confidence in additional receivers.

“With [Armstrong] and [Broden] out, our receivers did a great job of stepping up with the opportunities they had,” Green said. “That was pretty cool to see.”

With the Arkansas high school football season about a month away, the SBLive staff is looking at each class’s conferences. We will predict the order of finish in each league. In this installment, we predict Class 4A.

4A-1

1. Elkins

2. Prairie Grove

3. Gentry

4. Gravette

5. Lincoln

6. Green Forest

7. Berryville

8. Huntsville

Why Elkins?

Elks head coach Zach Watson has his program rolling and came within a game of a state championship a year ago. He must reload on offense with star quarterback Dizzy Dean and running back Da’Shawn Chairs graduated, but having nine returning defensive starters ensures another conference title and a deep playoff run again.

4A-2

1. Mills

2. Heber Springs

3. Forrest City

4. Lonoke

5. CAC

6. Bald Knob

7. Hall

8. Riverview

Why Mills?

Mills had success under head coach Cortez Lee in Class 5A and now moves down to 4A but still has an abundance of talented players. The Comets return only eight total starters but still have more talent and depth than most 4A schools, which will mean a conference title and a possible push to Little Rock.

4A-3

1. Southside

2. Highland

3. Gosnell

4. Pocahontas

5. Blytheville

6. Trumann

7. Cave City

8. Westside

Why Southside?

The Southerners went 10-2 in Class 5A a season ago, and while they lost several key players on offense, they will be stout on defense with eight veterans. After battling in the ultra-competitive 5A-East, Southside shouldn’t have a problem rolling through the league.

4A-4

1. Ozark

2. Dardanelle

3. Clinton

4. Pottsville

5. Lamar

6. Mena

7. Waldron

8. Dover

Why Ozark?

Senior quarterback Koby Wilbanks might be one of the best football players, regardless class, in the state. The dynamic Wilbanks is one of just eight returning starters, but his presence is enough to lead the Hillbillies to a league title after winning 10 games and advancing to the Class 4A quarterfinals last year.

4A-7

1. Arkadelphia

2. Bauxite

3. Malvern

4. Nashville

5. Ashdown

6. Harmony Grove

7. Fountain Lake

8. Genoa Central

Why Arkadelphia?

The Badgers have made a habit of deep playoff runs, and after losing their first three games last year, they rattled off seven consecutive wins before losing to Rivercrest. A core group returns for Badgers head coach Tre Schucker’s team. The game with Bauxite could decide the league title, and Arkadelphia has the advantage of playing at home.

4A-8

1. Warren

2. DeWitt

3. Stuttgart

4. Hamburg

5. Monticello

6. Crossett

7. Star City

8. Mena

Why Warren?

The Lumberjacks just missed another state final berth last fall, losing at Rivercrest in the Class 4A state semifinals. A loaded, veteran team is a favorite among the pundits to not only win another league title but a state championship. Sophomore quarterback Jackson Denton returns with a stable of weapons, including senior receiver Antonio Jordan, a University of Arkansas commit. The Lumberjacks lost just one game last season. They might not lose one this year.

–Nate Olson | nate@scorebooklive.com | @ndosports