OLYMPIA - A Soap Lake physician's assistant under investigation for alleged inappropriate behavior with employees and patients has filed a request to extend the period he has to answer the allegations.

John Bearup, 65, filed a request for extension Thursday, said Mike Farrell, attorney for the Medical Quality Assurance Commission for the state Department of Health.

Bearup had 20 days to reply to the allegations, which were filed April 20. The complaint includes allegations of inappropriate conduct with three women who worked at the clinic, Soap Lake Family Medicine, and two patients.

Bearup can be granted up to 60 additional days to reply to the allegations, Farrell said.

"We don't have a comment at this time," said Carol Sue Janes of the law firm Bennett, Bigelow and Leedom in Seattle, Bearup's attorney of record with the state Department of Health.