A Pierce County judge denied a prosecutor's request Wednesday to increase the bail of a registered nurse practitioner who is accused of forcing abortion pills inside his pregnant girlfriend and violating a no-contact order multiple times.
Pierce County prosecutors argued that David Benjamin Coots, 49, violated a no-contact order by relaying a message to his co-defendant, wife Melissa Coots. David Coots is out on a $500,000 bail and is facing charges of second-degree assault with a domestic-violence emphasis, third-degree rape and witness tampering. He's pleaded not guilty.
Melissa Coots was charged with witness tampering after she and Coots allegedly tried to pay off the victim so she would not tell police of the alleged sexual assault, court records show.
Coots was arrested on March 11 for allegedly prescribing abortions pills to himself and slipping them inside his pregnant girlfriend during sex. Coots is a registered nurse practitioner who was employed at MultiCare Gig Harbor Medical Park. He is currently on leave, the hospital told The News Tribune last week. The alleged victim was Coots' patient and they developed an intimate relationship even though he is married, court records show.
Coots posted bail a few days after his arrest. A no-contact order states he is not allowed to contact the victim or Melissa Coots. David Coots can only contact Melissa Coots with a third party present for purposes of child care and visitation, records show.
A prosecutor argued that Coots called his father when he was in jail on March 14 and wanted him to deliver a message to Melissa Coots that was not about child care. David Coots' father said that Melissa Coots was going to his attorney's office and asked him if there is anything she should know. David Coots asked his father to tell Melissa Coots that he needed clarification on the no-contact order, prosecutors said.
The prosecutor said that while it was not "egregious," it was concerning because of his past alleged violations of the no-contact order. Prosecutors said they are concerned that David Coots does not seem to abide by the rules and requested the judge to increase bail by $50,000.
David Coots' attorney, Charles Varni, argued that his client just wanted to get clarification about the no-contact order and his electronic home detention. He said that David Coots was not asking about specific information on the case. Varni said he believes there will be no other mishaps as the case proceeds.
Judge Timothy L. Ashcraft denied the state's request for an increase in bail, saying, "There's not a lot there." He agreed with the defense that the phone call was largely about clarification and what is and what is not allowed.
Varni requested that there be a small modification to the no-contact order so that David and Melissa Coots could communicate when it comes to discussing bills and other finances since they are part of a household with five children.
Ashcraft ruled that David and Melissa Coots could only have contact with a third party present for child care purposes and household finances, records show.
David Coots and his attorney denied to give a statement to The News Tribune about the allegations following the hearing.
Coots was licensed in 2006 and received his nurse practitioner license in 2008. His license has been in good standing since, but the Washington State Board of Nursing is authorizing a high-priority investigation because of the severity of the complaints, according to executive director, Alison Bradywood.
Bradywood said that the board first heard of the allegations against Coots on Friday after a complaint was filed following The News Tribune's reporting of the allegations Thursday. The nursing board's panel met as soon as possible to discuss the complaint and allegations against Coots, she said.
Bradywood said the board is investigating possible violations regarding the Nurse Practice Act, allegations of the abortion pills prescription and having relationships with patients. An investigator was assigned on Monday.
"We're concerned with the complaints as we've seen them and the allegations," Bradywood said. "Public safety is most paramount."
Coots' nursing license will be considered in good standing with the board until there is clear and convincing evidence against him, she said. Bradywood said that high priority cases such as this usually are closed within 30 days. The board is moving to expedite it even sooner because of how severe the allegations are against Coots.
Coots has not faced prior discriminatory actions.
