Porn Star-Turned-Sovereign Citizen May Face Murder, Rape Counts
"Dr. Rick," porn star turned antigovernment "sovereign citizen," may face additional charges of rape and murder stemming聽from his illegal medical practice.
An antigovernment 鈥渟overeign citizen鈥� who worked as an unlicensed medical doctor in Las Vegas is now linked to the deaths of at least three of his former patients, and may face murder charges, prosecutors say.
David Rick Van Thiel 鈥撯�撀燼 former porn star, male escort and sex toy inventor 鈥撯�� also is alleged to have sexually assaulted several women, including one who went to his ramshackle trailer clinic for an abortion, investigators say.
鈥淭here [are] now three deaths associated with Mr. Van Thiel, 90 victims and I can't count the number of sexual assault counts he is now facing,鈥� Chief Deputy District Attorney Marc DiGiacomo said at a hearing Tuesday, Las Vegas station reported.
As part of his antigovernment views, Van Thiel has said he doesn鈥檛 believe the government has a right to interfere or license activity between consenting adults 鈥撯�� whether sex-for-hire or the practice of medicine. His ads promoted holistic medicine and natural remedies and denounced conventional medicine, vaccinations, the pharmaceutical industry and the federal Food and Drug Administration.
Van Thiel worked in the porn industry in Las Vegas before opening his makeshift clinic after watching YouTube videos about medical procedures and setting up web sites to lure patients, many of whom apparently lacked health coverage. He has served prison time for battery, robbery, burglary and assault.
One of his patients who died, Hatewatch has learned, was an AIDS patient who sought treatment from 鈥淒r. Rick鈥� after being promised a cure. Prosecutors could seek a murder charge on the basis that medical care dispensed by someone who isn鈥檛 a licensed physician is 鈥渞eckless disregard for human life.鈥�
Judge Ann Zimmerman said Van Thiel 鈥撯�� who claims to have performed dozens of abortions, circumcisions, castrations, root canals and cancer treatments 鈥撯�� presents a greater danger than a serial murderer or rapist 鈥渂ecause he appears to be preying upon people who can't access health care in our community.鈥� She refused to lower his $1 million bond.
The investigation, being conducted by the Las Vegas Metro Police, the FBI and the Clark County Health District, has grown larger as authorities聽attempt to identify, locate and interview Van Thiel鈥檚 former patients, prosecutors say. Once located, those former patients are being given medical exams and blood tests to see if they were cross-infected after treatment at Dr. Rick鈥檚 clinic in northeast Las Vegas.聽
The illegal clinic鈥撯�� described by one patient as a scene from a horror movie 鈥撯�撀爄ncluded video surveillance towers, a residence, a semi-truck container, three storage sheds, a motor home and a trailer where the medical procedures are believed to have occurred.聽
When the process of identifying and interviewing former patients is completed, the prosecutor said he will take the case to a county grand jury and likely seek murder and sexual assault charges against Van Thiel.
Van Thiel, 52, was arrested Oct. 2 and is being held in the Clark County Detention Center on charges of practicing medicine without a license; possession of a firearm by a felon; possession of illegal drugs and illegally providing illegal drugs.
Like other sovereign citizens who refuse to abide by laws and regulations and get licenses from government agencies, Van Thiel apparently believed he was free to practice medicine and dispense illegal drugs, ozone treatments, blood thinners, steroids and herbal remedies without a medical license.
In court on Tuesday, his sovereign citizen philosophy came through in an exchange with the judge when she asked his name 鈥渇or the record,鈥澛� reported.
鈥淔or the record I'm not Mr. Van Thiel,鈥� he responded.
鈥淲ho are you?鈥� the judge then asked.
鈥淚 am the living sentient human, man that goes by capital R lower case i-c-k capital V lower case a-n capital T lower case h-i-e-l and I'm here on special appearance but I'm not Mr. Van Thiel or the all caps name on the amended criminal complaint."
