A San Antonio dentist is sitting in jail after police say a woman at a North Side home reported she had been assaulted and was not allowed to leave. Officers arrested 34-year-old Eric Tong on Monday and booked him into the county jail, launching a criminal investigation and triggering notice to the state dental board. The case is already raising the uncomfortable question of what happens to a professional license when a health care provider is hit with serious criminal allegations.
Booking and county records
Jail records show Tong was processed into the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, and his name is listed on the county's central magistrate roster. According to Bexar County Central Magistrate Search, the booking was logged in the county system shortly after officers responded. The online jail roster indicates Tong remains in custody while the magistrate process plays out.
San Antonio police were called to a home in the 100 block of Pinecrest around 1:30 p.m. Monday. When officers got there, a 21-year-old woman answered the door and asked for help, according to KSAT. The outlet reports officers saw several markings on the woman, and she told investigators Tong had assaulted her multiple times and kept her from getting away by restraining her. Police found Tong inside the residence and arrested him at the scene, KSAT said.
What the charges mean
Local reports say Tong is facing a lineup of felony allegations. Under Texas law, aggravated sexual assault is classified as a first-degree felony, and aggravated assault, including cases that involve a deadly weapon, is generally a second-degree felony that can be enhanced in some situations, according to the Texas Penal Code. Those statutes carry potential prison sentences that can stretch from a number of years to decades if a defendant is convicted. Prosecutors, however, still have to prove every element of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Charges and professional standing
According to KSAT, Tong was arrested on charges that include aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault on a family or household member impeding breath or circulation, unlawful restraint and assault causing bodily injury to a family member. KSAT also reported that as of Tuesday afternoon, Tong’s license with the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners was still listed as active. The board's public license search, available through the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners, is where patients can check a licensee's status and any posted disciplinary history. The board can open its own administrative review regardless of what happens in the criminal courts.
Next steps
The case will now move through the magistrate and court system. Bexar County materials note that people arrested on felony charges are typically brought before a magistrate, and public online tools can be used to follow an inmate's status, according to Bexar County Central Magistrate Search. For now, officials have not laid out a detailed schedule for an arraignment or bond hearing. Hoodline will update this story as court filings and official statements become available.
