Federal Prosecutors Allege That Florida Doctor Coerced a Girl to Hang Herself While Producing Child Sex Abuse Materials

A Florida doctor is facing criminal charges after federal prosecutors alleged that he produced child sex abuse materials and coerced a girl to hang herself, resulting in her death. The 59-year-old doctor also faces charges of enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida announced the charges in a press release just recently.

The suspect, who is a palliative care doctor in the Tampa, FL area, allegedly instructed 10 children online to “produce sexually explicit images of themselves and directed them to cut, choke, and hang themselves, according to the press release.

In November 2022, a 13-year-old girl was found dead in her bathroom. Investigators searched the girl’s cell phone and uncovered an online conversation between herself and an individual with the username maximumuncle#9112. This handle was later traced back to the suspect, according to federal prosecutors. In the messages, authorities say the suspect instructed the girl to produce child sexual abuse material, “engage in daily hangings” and choke herself with a dog leash.

Authorities said that a search of the suspect’s social media account allegedly showed that the defendant had similar conversations with other children through text and video chat. In so doing, he never revealed his true identity, according to the motion. Investigators say that these conversations show that the defendant was “aware” that the alleged victims were all minors.

Attorneys for the defendant say that the defendant vehemently denies the charges that have been filed against him in federal court. His attorneys added they plan to file a not-guilty plea on their client’s behalf.

The defendant is charged with three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity. If convicted, the suspect faces a maximum of life in federal prison.

Analyzing the charges 

Child pornography charges can be filed by either the state or the federal government. In this case, they’re being filed by the federal government. The suspect is accused of enticing minors to produce child sex abuse materials. He is facing three counts of production of child sex abuse materials. 18 U.S. Code 2251 makes it a crime to produce sexually explicit images, videos, or anything else depicting children. According to the law:

Any person who employs, uses, persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any minor to engage in, or who has a minor assist any other person to engage in, or who transports any minor in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, or in any Territory or Possession of the United States, with the intent that such minor engage in, any sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct or for the purpose of transmitting a live visual depiction of such conduct, shall be punished as provided under subsection (e), if such person knows or has reason to know that such visual depiction will be transported or transmitted using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or mailed, if that visual depiction was produced or transmitted using materials that have been mailed, shipped, or transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any means, including by computer, or if such visual depiction has actually been transported or transmitted using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce or mailed.

Any individual who is found guilty of violating this rule can be sentenced to a minimum of 35 years behind bars and a maximum of life in prison.

Talk to a Tallahassee, FL Sex Crimes Attorney Today 

Luke Newman, P.A. represents the interests of Tallahassee residents who have been charged with sex crimes. We handle both state and federal cases. Call our Tallahassee criminal defense lawyers today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin preparing your defense immediately.

Source:

people.com/florida-doctor-convinced-girl-hang-herself-child-sex-abuse-material-8770572