William Ayres, the longtime San Mateo child psychiatrist accused of molesting boys who were under his care, was taken back into custody Friday after a judge raised his bail.

Ayres was remanded in the courtroom after his bail was raised to $750,000. His initial bail of $1.5 million was dropped last week to $250,000, which he posted Monday. Prosecutors requested a raise in bail after two more alleged molestation victims were added to the criminal charges Thursday, bringing the total of alleged victims to five.

The number may be raised to at least seven next week, Deputy District Attorney Melissa McKowan said Friday, who told the judge during the hearing, “Charges are growing essentially every day.”

Ayres, a psychiatrist for 40 years, is a former president of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He examined children at the request of local school districts and the county juvenile system throughout the 1990s. He showed no emotion as the judge announced his higher bail.

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Ayres was arrested at his San Mateo apartment April 5 as a result of an investigation by San Mateo police, prompted by a civil lawsuit from a former patient who said Ayres molested him in the 1970s.

While Ayres settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount, but maintained in an interview with The Examiner in August that he never molested his patients although he did give them physical exams.

Ayres faces 18 counts of molestation with five boys who were between the ages of 9 and 12 at the time of the alleged abuse in the early 1990s.

Attorney, Phil Barnett, who is representing Ayres on a temporary basis, revealed in the bail hearing that he once represented an alleged victim. Barnett declined to detail the identity of the victim or the circumstances. It is unclear who will be Ayres’ permanent lawyer.

In the hearing Friday, Barnett said Ayres should be free on bail, citing his failing health, which includes aneurisms and back problems.

“He’s in poor health,” Barnett said. “He’s 75 years old. He has no criminal record. All of the matters that allegedly occurred are from more than 10 years ago. There’s no indication of any recent misconduct.”

McKowan said the investigation has grown and that 37 alleged victims, all boys, have been interviewed by prosecutors.

The five people named in the criminal case say they were molested after 1988 — which would put the alleged crimes within the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution. McKowan said others who say they were abused before 1988 may be used as witnesses in a trial.

Ayres’ next court appearance is an arraignment scheduled for April 27.

bfoley@examiner.com