Jonathan Robertson, MD

MARQUETTE — A physician with offices in Marquette and Traverse City was arraigned Wednesday on eight counts of criminal sexual conduct for allegedly assaulting two female patients.

Jonathan Robertson, 43, appeared in Marquette County District Court and was ordered to be held on a $2 million cash surety bond, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a news release.

Robertson entered a not guilty plea to the charges, according to his attorney Karl Numinen.

“Dr. Robertson has pled not guilty and has expressed to the investigators that he’s absolutely innocent of these charges,” Numinen said during a Thursday phone interview. “We were surprised by these allegations that are apparently 3 or 4 years old. The timing of the allegations is highly suspicious.”

The alleged assaults occurred in examination rooms between October 2014 and October 2015, Schuette said. One woman had sought treatment for an opioid addiction and the other was referred to Robertson for pain management.

Robertson allegedly penetrated one victim with an ungloved hand and forced her to perform oral sex on him in exchange for a prescription for Suboxone, a drug used to treat patients in opioid addiction recovery, Schuette said in the release. During a subsequent visit, Robertson allegedly pulled down his pants, exposed himself and forced the woman to perform oral sex on him, the attorney general said. He then gave her $200 cash for a prescription that he requested from a pharmacy.

Schuette said the other woman sought treatment from Robertson for a sore muscle in her hip and that Robertson sexually assaulted her during multiple visits, including penetrating her at least once with an ungloved hand, Schuette said. Robertson prescribed painkillers for the woman.

Anyone with information related to Robertson is asked to call Lt. Robin Lynde with the Michigan State Police at 313-418-2731.