Yellow Springs doctor accused of sex abuse involving multiple patients; medical license suspended

YELLOW SPRINGS — Investigators executed a search warrant Thursday at the offices of a Yellow Springs doctor whose medical license was suspended Wednesday after allegations of sexual misconduct.

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The investigation involved the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, and Yellow Springs police at Yellow Springs Primary Care in the 800 block of Dayton Street. An Ohio BCI spokesperson confirmed the investigation centers around the practice of Dr. Donald Gronbeck.

“The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Greene County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the Yellow Springs business of Dr. Donald Gronbeck as part of an ongoing criminal investigation,” the spokesperson said in a statement to News Center 7.

Gronbeck’s medical license was suspended Wednesday by the State Medical Board of Ohio, according to documents obtained by News Center 7.

State medical board documents outline sexual assault complaints made against Gronbeck by eight patients from January 2013 to January 2022.

Greene County court records show Gronbeck has not been criminally charged and he’s currently not listed as an inmate at any area jail.

Gronbeck is accused of having a sexual relationship with one of the female patients while they were being treated by him. Additionally, six female patients reported instances of inappropriate touching that was sexual in nature.

State medical board documents allege Gronbeck used a private email account and used a messaging app called Cover Me, where messages disappear quickly and are not saved, to have sexually explicit conversations with the female patient.

State medical board documents also accuse Gronbeck of prescribing Rivastigmine patches to one patient, and told her to give the patches to others including two other patients who made sexual abuse violations.

Rivastigmine patches are commonly prescribed to dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s patients and helps improve mental function by “increasing the amount of a certain natural substance in the brain,” according to the National Library of Medicine.

It was not immediately clear the reason for the prescription and its relationship to the sexual assault allegations made by the patients.

In a statement from the Greene County Sheriff’s Office, investigators requested the public to submit tips to deputies if anyone has information about crimes that might have occurred involving Gronbeck.

The sheriff’s office created a link on their website to report any information or tips about Gronbeck and Yellow Springs Primary Care. A sheriff’s office spokesperson said personal information is optional, but it is needed if the investigative team has any follow-up questions.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.

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