A Portland-area podiatrist has admitted to sexually abusing multiple patients during what were supposed to be routine foot exams at a Northeast Portland clinic. Brian Bowen, 52, pleaded guilty Thursday to 12 charges in all, including 10 counts of third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of sexual abuse by fraudulent representation. Under the plea, he faces a statutory maximum sentence of eight years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 14, 2026.
Prosecutors say the abuse happened between August 2022 and October 2023 at Eastside Foot & Ankle in the 1800 block of Northeast 44th Avenue. The case widened as more former patients came forward, leading to a grand jury indictment in December 2023, according to KATU.
Investigation and charges
The Portland Police Bureau Sex Crimes Unit opened its investigation in late 2022, after initial reports raised red flags about what was allegedly happening in the exam room. As more people came forward, detectives publicly released Bowen’s photo and case information and urged any other patients with similar experiences to contact police. Those reports, along with gathered evidence, were presented to prosecutors for grand jury review, according to the Portland Police Bureau. That process identified multiple alleged victims and resulted in the December 2023 indictment that eventually led to Bowen’s guilty plea.
Professional file and licensing
While the criminal case was ramping up, Bowen’s professional status was also unraveling. In April 2024, the Oregon Medical Board issued an interim stipulated order that pulled him out of practice while regulators evaluated whether he could safely continue working as a podiatrist. The board’s online records now list his DPM license as lapsed and reflect both the interim order and the shift in his licensing status as the investigations moved forward, according to the Oregon Medical Board. Those administrative moves ran on a parallel track to the criminal investigation and prosecution.
New statute used by prosecutors
Two of the counts in Bowen’s plea rely on a relatively new legal tool in Oregon’s criminal code. In 2023, lawmakers created a felony offense for licensed professionals who falsely claim that sexual contact serves a legitimate medical purpose. The law, codified as ORS 163.429, labels “sexual abuse by fraudulent representation” as a Class B felony and is intended to address situations where medical providers exploit patient trust, according to the text of the statute in the Oregon Revised Statutes.
What comes next
Bowen is due back in court for sentencing on Aug. 14, 2026, where a judge will decide how much of that eight-year statutory maximum he will actually serve and what additional penalties he might face. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office has credited Portland police detectives and MCDA victim advocates with helping bring the case to its current resolution, according to KATU. Survivors’ advocates say the outcome highlights how crucial it is for patients to report misconduct and to have access to support services while these cases work their way through the system.
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