A judge heard closing arguments this morning, and he will render a verdict July 8 in the non-jury trial of a South Hills dentist charged with sexually assaulting 17 of his female patients while they were under anesthesia.

Defense attorney William Difenderfer argued the "absurdity," of a criminal trial for his client, Dr. Robert J. Boyda Jr., based on testimony from witnesses still groggy and possibly hallucinating or recalling dreams from their unconscious minds.

The lawyer also argued that Dr. Boyda's offices in Scott and Robinson, where the assaults are alleged to have occurred, were too busy for him to have an opportunity to assault the women without being noticed.

Deputy District Attorney Janet Necessary countered that several factors bolstered the largely circumstantial case against the dentist.

The prosecutor referred to "clusters" of similar accusations -- 19 in all -- made by patients in 2002, 2006 and 2007 that point to his criminal "signature." She argued that many of the females, between ages 13 and 58, immediately mentioned the alleged assaults to their friends or relatives.

She also pointed out that Dr. Boyda showed consciousness of guilt in at least two cases, including one in which he contacted the parent of a younger patient to inquire whether the patient had been "saying silly things" about their experience at his office.

The trial for Dr. Boyda, 44, of Mt. Lebanon, began April 27 before Judge Anthony Mariani.