Photo Cred: KSL.com
An Orem psychologist, Robert Virgil Dindinger, is currently facing criminal charges of sexual abuse. The accusations against him include having his child clients undress in the office so he could record them secretly.
According to KSL.com, Dindinger was charged “with 10 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony, and two counts of voyeurism, a class A misdemeanor”.
This investigation started after a woman, who had seen Dindinger when she was a teenager. She told law enforcement in 2023 about her encounter, so they started the investigation.
She said that she had gone to Dindinger at first for depression, anxiety, and self-harm. Later, she brought a pornography addiction forward. She stated that after he knew about her addiction, that was all he focused on.
During one of the sessions, Dindinger told this girl to take off her clothes while he was looking away. And she said that after a comment he made, she believed he had a recording device in the room.
This woman years later was talking with a coworker about her experience with Robert Dindinger. They found out another girl reported being touched inappropriately by him.
Robert Dindinger owns Utah Valley Psychology in Orem. Their clinic focused on resolving disagreements, as well as children and their mental health. Dindinger also has a book about pornography addiction in children.
During the police’s investigation, they found other reports of patients being told to remove their clothing in order to weigh themselves in the nude. One of the patients was told to do this even though weight issues were not a problem for her. There were also reports of him touching young patients inappropriately.
In searches of his house and office, the police found a camera above his diploma, and they seized hard drives and other devices. On these devices, the police found “child sex abuse videos and two voyeuristic videos.”
One of the victims stated that they were told that the camera was unplugged.
The same victim who was weighed without cause noted “several instances of Robert touching her thighs and legs while speaking with her about sexual scenarios of guys she thought were attractive. Robert would also kiss her forehead and cuddle her when he could. She did recall an instance in which Robert touched and squeezed her left buttocks while he spoke with her about guys her age she liked.”
Dindinger’s license has been suspended, and he is no longer allowed to practice any mental health care until the investigation is over.
What To Do If You Have Experienced Sexual Abuse?
If you or a loved one have experienced sexual abuse or been hurt by a trusted professional, there are steps that you can take to seek help.
One of these steps is to report the sexual abuse. This prevents future abuse for other victims. Reporting the abuse helps victims find resources to move forward in healing. A person’s physical, mental, and behavioral health can be affected by sexual abuse, especially if they are a child. These consequences can last short-term and long-term. Also, reporting sexual abuse ends the culture and shame around abuse, and supports other survivors to step forward.
When reporting abuse, there are four places that you can go to with the information.
- Law Enforcement: You can call the direct line to your local police station, or go to the station in person. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are on college campuses, you can call your campus law enforcement.
- Child Protection Services: If there is a child that has been abused, or you suspect that a child is being abused, you can contact your state and local child protection service agency.
- Adult Protective Services: If the victim is an adult who is in danger, you can report the adult to protective services.
- Sexual Abuse Reporting Hotlines: These hotlines can provide support, information, and referrals to victims of sexual abuse. They can also help you or victims know how to report to proper authorities.
You also should talk to someone that you trust, and they can help you report the abuse. You are not alone, and you deserve to seek help.
If you are a parent or guardian of a child, there are a few ways that you can look for signs of abuse in these children. Since children, especially younger, might not understand that the abuse is happening, or they might be told that they should not share, it is important to watch for these changes. These changes are:
- Changes in Emotions: aggression, anger, low self-esteem, crying
- Changes in Behavior: Self-harm, sleeping problems, changes in eating behaviors, driving recklessly, problems with drugs and alcohol, problematic sexual behavior, receiving gifts from unknown sources.
- Changes in Social Life: Spending more time alone, changing friend groups, drops in school work, avoiding favorite activities, distancing from loved ones or places.
- Physical Signs: UTIs, difficulty sitting or walking, symptoms of STI, and pain while going to the bathroom.
After sexual abuse has been reported, you should understand that this can become a long process. Once you report, you will need to do some interviews with police and lawyers about the abuse. Then these authorities will collect evidence and do an investigation. Once that is collected, then legal proceedings will move forward. All of these steps can be scary, and they can cause a victim to feel scared, anxious, and overwhelmed. It is okay to rely on a loved one or trusted sources during these times.
Call Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks
Sexual abuse is a serious issue that demands our attention and action. Whether you are a survivor of sexual abuse or a concerned ally, there are steps you can take to support survivors and prevent further abuse. Reporting sexual abuse, offering support, and advocating for change are all important ways to make a difference.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse and needs legal assistance, don’t hesitate to contact Flickinger • Boulton • Robson • Weeks.
Our experienced sexual abuse lawyers are committed to providing survivors with compassionate and effective legal representation. Call us at 801.500.4000, or fill out the form on our website to get started.
Together, we can work towards a world where sexual abuse is no longer tolerated, and survivors can heal and thrive.
