A former Bow doctor charged with raping two female patients and facing new charges of sexually assaulting a teenage client was found dead Monday in Meredith, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Merrimack County Attorney Scott W. Murray said he was notified late Monday afternoon of Dr. Steven Chern's death because his office was prosecuting Chern.

Chern, who most recently lived in Northwood, was scheduled to be arraigned today in Merrimack County Superior Court in Concord on five indictments accusing him of sexually assaulting a teenage patient while he treated her at Bow Mills Family Practice from 2009 to 2010.

Murray said he had no details about the circumstances surrounding Chern's death, noting the matter is being investigated by Belknap County authorities.

Chern, 64, was out on bail pending trial in August on his other charges. He closed his medical practice and voluntarily agreed not to practice medicine after his arrest last year.