A McKeesport dentist was found not guilty yesterday of sexually assaulting a patient.

Norman W. Demos, 59, was acquitted in a nonjury trial before Common Pleas Judge Jill A. Rangos.

The defense argued that Dr. Demos' accuser, Susan Butler, had a history of making false statements before her February allegations to police that Dr. Demos groped her and asked inappropriate questions about her sexual past during a visit to get an X-ray.

"It was totally untrue," said Dr. Demos, who was choked up after the verdict. "This lady lied continuously, start to finish."

Dr. Demos' attorney, John Elash, said the allegations likely were a "copycat situation" because charges against another dentist had recently been in the news.

In January, Dr. Robert John Boyda Jr., an oral surgeon from Mt. Lebanon, was charged with sexually assaulting several young female patients while they were under anesthesia or recovering from surgery in his offices in Robinson and Scott. Dr. Boyda's trial is scheduled for April.