By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Steve Hollar, a local basketball legend and well-known dentist in Warsaw, has been charged with confinement and battery over incidents allegedly involving a former employee at the dental firm where he works.
The charges are the result of allegations going back a year ago involving an employee at Hollar Dental Group.
According to court paperwork, a woman who began working in the office in early 2023 told investigators about several incidents in which Hollar allegedly grabbed her breasts on two occasions and once pushed her underwear aside in an attempt to see a c-section scar.
In one incident, the woman claimed he locked his office door while he was conducting a personnel review with her.
She told police the interview began with what she thought were invasive questions about her family life. He then offered to provide her with new scrubs and encouraged her to take her pants and bra off while she tried on the scrubs.
At that point, she said she did not say anything, but looked away and was trying to hide herself from him while getting changed.
During the same meeting, he gave her a jacket, encouraged her to wear it in the future without a bra, and then later, at night, phoned her, asked if she was alone and brought up the jacket again.
Also during the meeting, court paperwork said Hollar said she could have used the bathroom to change, said he was sorry and added, “Let’s keep this between us.”
In another incident in March of 2023, court papers allege Hollar was attempting to show the woman how to help disabled patients get out of the dental chair when he grabbed her breasts on the outside of her clothing during the demonstration.
In another incident in early April of 2023, the woman claims Hollar was asking her to try on scrubs. At one point, after trying on several scrubs, she was attempting to get dressed when Hollar unhooked her bra from behind and grabbed her breasts.
On at least one occasion, he apologized for asking her to undress.
Hollar, 57, is charged with two counts of confinement, both felonies; and two counts of battery, both misdemeanors.
The criminal case was filed Monday.
Hollar was part of the 1984 boys basketball state championship at Warsaw Community High School, went on to play for DePauw University and had a role in the classic basketball movie, “Hoosiers.”
According to the Hollar Dental Group website, Hollar is the current president of the Indiana Dental Association and has served as president on the Indiana state board of dentistry.
He received the 2014 Indiana Ethics Achievement award and also was the recipient of the 2015 Sagamore of the Wabash award.
