Podiatrist now accused of trading drugs for sex

The East Dundee podiatrist accused of secretly taping sex with women in his office now has been accused of trading drugs for that sex over two years, officials said Tuesday.

Dr. Steven Paul Loheide, 64, of 1002 Twisted Oak, Algonquin, is being held on $5 million bond and faces 95 felony charges, officials said.

Loheide faces 11 counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, 26 counts of delivery of a controlled substance, 29 counts of eavesdropping and 29 counts of using an eavesdropping device, according to court records.

Loheide operated Fox Valley Podiatry at 210 Penny Ave. in East Dundee.

In a list of the charges, the Kane County state's attorney's office alleges that:

• Between March 2005 and April 2006, Loheide received 11 deliveries of a prescription medication he had ordered from suppliers with the intent of trading the drugs for sex with patients.

• Between March 1, 2005, and Sept. 30, 2007, Loheide exchanged prescription drugs for sex 26 times.

• Between March 1, 2005, and Sept. 30, 2007, Loheide unlawfully recorded himself engaging in sex with patients 29 times without the patient's consent to the recording.

Loheide had surrendered his Drug Enforcement Agency license to issue controlled substances on March 8, 2006. The DEA said Loheide had not kept records of prescriptions for two years before that.

Loheide was first arrested in October 2007 and was charged with eavesdropping without consent, possession of an eavesdropping device, videotaping, battery and solicitation of a sex act.

East Dundee Police Chief Terry Mee said then that the investigation began when an employee of Fox Valley Podiatry called police after she found a videotape of herself dressing and undressing in the examination room.

She said she was unaware the videotaping had occurred and that she found the hidden camera in the examination room.

Police then got a search warrant for Loheide's office and discovered numerous videotapes showing the doctor in sexual acts with women in the examining room, officials say.

Police conducted a four-month investigation that included interviews with patients, acquaintances and other contacts, according to a court summary.

During that time, on Nov. 15, Loheide's podiatry license was revoked by the state Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

Mee said Tuesday the drug Loheide was giving to his patients was hydrocodone, a generic version of the painkiller Vicodin.

Loheide's defense attorney Todd Cohen said in court Tuesday he would seek a lowered bond.

"We knew the investigation was taking place. Dr. Loheide made all of his previous court dates. He also was allowed to visit his wife and family in Wisconsin and he has no criminal history in the past," Cohen said.

Loheide's next court date is March 12 in the Kane County Judicial Center.