A Gwinnett County grand jury has indicted a psychiatrist for allegedly fondling 14 female patients while working at a Lawrenceville-based mental health clinic.

Mohammad Uzair Qureshi, 45, of Lawrenceville, is charged with 16 counts of sexual assault by a practitioner of psychotherapy against a patient, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

His lawyer, Page Pate, said Qureshi intends to plead not guilty.

The incidents allegedly occurred at the Gwinnett-Rockdale-Newton Community Services Board.

Qureshi was first arrested in October after a female patient complained he touched her inappropriately during an appointment.

Since then, 13 more women have come forward to police with similar allegations.

Lawrenceville police detective Brad Daugherty testified a preliminary hearing last year that Qureshi used his position of authority as a doctor to manipulate the women into removing their shirts and bras.

He asked them if they were feeling anxious, Daugherty said, which was a segue into touching their arm for a pulse or having them lift their shirt and bra so he could check their heart rate with a stethoscope.

Qureshi is out of jail on $75,000 bond. He has been fired from the community services board, and his lawyer said Qureshi has consented with the state medical board not to practice medicine while the case is pending.

"He loves psychiatry, and he is hopeful to get right back into it when we resolve this case," Pate said.