Anchorage doctor charged

SKWENTNA — A doctor charged with 15 counts of child sex abuse committed at least some of those crimes in the Valley, authorities said.

Clifford Merchant, 67, of Anchorage faces 12 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a minor and three counts of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor in connection with crimes reported to Alaska State Troopers in July, according to court documents and a trooper media release.

Most of allegations of abuse date between 2001 and 2003, according to a grand jury indictment filed Oct. 24. Additional allegations date between 2007 and 2009. The most recent offense dates from last year, according to the indictment.

The July allegations involved a 12-year-old girl, and subsequent investigation revealed two additional girls, ages 7 and 11 at the time of the offense, according to the press release.

Merchant’s case file number was given a 3PA designation, indicating he could be tried in Palmer Court.

However, he was arrested by Anchorage airport police and charged in Anchorage, and remained there on $500,000 bail, according to trooper releases and Alaska Department of Corrections documents. Charging documents, including an indictment, weren’t immediately available at either the Palmer or Anchorage courthouses Monday.

Online forums for doctor reviews, like vitals.com, record a mostly negative opinion of Merchant’s services.

At least one forum, ripoffreport.com, holds an allegation of child abuse as early as 2008 by a user identified only by the handle Paulamom.

Merchant “is a very heavy drinker and has participated in enough evil acts that you should NOT leave your (child) alone with him,” the user wrote.

“He uses his status as a ‘doctor’ to protect him and his agenda,” Paulamom added.

Merchant is the listed owner of a Shell Lake cabin in the Skwentna area of the borough, according to Mat-Su Borough property documents.

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269 or brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com.