Charges dropped against embattled Jacksonville pediatric dentist

Howard Schneider was facing 11 counts of Medicaid fraud

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Charges have been dropped against an embattled Jacksonville pediatric dentist.

Howard Schneider was facing 11 counts of Medicaid fraud and one count of schemes to defraud.

Last year, a trial judge ruled Schneider not competent for prosecution.

The defense said Schneider, now 81, has a “deteriorating mental condition” that is unlikely to be restored, so the State Attorney’s Office dropped the charges.

COURT DOCUMENT: Disposition abandoning charges against Schneider

If his condition unexpectedly improves, the charges could be reinstated.

Schneider closed his practice on University Boulevard and surrendered his license in 2015 after he was accused of abusing children in his practice and he was indicted on 12 counts of fraud.

RELATED: Embattled Jacksonville dentist strapped screaming kids to 'papoose boards,' parents say | Dentist accused of fraud found not competent for prosecution

At the time of his indictment, the state accused the dentist of billing Medicaid hundreds of thousands of dollars for procedures he didn't actually perform. Parents claim that Schneider abused children.

More than 100 patients have settled cases of claims that the dentist “assaulted, humiliated, tortured and mutilated children.”

"More than likely, it's going to be the story of an 81-year-old man who's going to spend the rest of his life in nursing-home type care and never face the criminal justice system," Jacksonville attorney John Phillips said Tuesday night.

Phillips said his law firm represented 124 victims -- families who accused the former dentist of malpractice.

"I've already had several reach out to me with, you know, with disappointment," Phillips told News4Jax. "They wanted to see Schneider punished. It's more than money to most of these families."

Phillips said his clients may have lost the battle, but the won the war, as Schneider will never practice dentistry again.