SHOCK: Pediatrician arrested for child porn that exploited young girls… [Video]
UPDATE:
The following is the actual press release from the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts:
PEDIATRICIAN ARRESTED ON CHILD PORNOGRAPHY RELATED CHARGES
BOSTON – A Mashpee man, who is a semi-retired pediatrician, was arrested this morning, charged with possessing and distributing child pornography.
Dr. Daniel J. O’Hern, 64, was charged by complaint of possession of child pornography and distribution and attempted distribution of child pornography.
According to the affidavit, a search was conducted at O’Hern’s home this morning following an investigation into the use of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing programs. During the search, numerous digital devices were seized including computers, hard drives and other media storage devices. According to the affidavit, the preliminary review uncovered numerous images of children being sexually exploited, including pubescent minor females.
O’Hern appeared before Magistrate Judge Robert B. Collings in Boston today for an initial appearance. He will remain in custody pending his detention hearing on Friday, June 27 at 1:45 p.m.
Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.
If convicted, O’Hern faces up to 20 years on the distribution counts with a minimum mandatory of five years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release and up to 10 years in prison on the possession charge with a lifetime of supervised release.
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Chief Rodney Collins of the Mashpee Police Department; and Chief Paul MacDonald of the Barnstable Police Department made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Kenneth G. Shine of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit.
The case is brought as part of Project Safe Childhood. In 2006, the Department of Justice created Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys Offices and the Criminal Divisions CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Original Hyannis News coverage:
MASHPEE – Sometime before 10am federal agents including the US Postal Inspector, Barnstable Police Detectives, and Mashpee Police served a search warrant at the Quashnet Valley Condominiums on Lowell Road…
Agents and detectives searched unit number 39 on Saint Andrew’s Way located inside the Quashnet Valley complex…
Computers, electronics, and boxes were removed from the residence and placed inside of a Barnstable Police van…
A retired pediatrician was taken into custody on charges related to child pornography…
The following video shows O’Hern in custody… being walked from the residence to an awaiting police cruiser… The video also shows police and agents removing evidence and loading it into the back of the police van…
Developing story, standby for more details and photos.... The US Attorney's Office is currently working on a press release...
Update 3:52pm - Received email back from US Attorney working this case... they are currently still in court.... no press release yet...
Update:
O'Hern recently retired after 30 years as a pediatrician in Middletown, NY...
He also wrote a book called "Common Sense Pediatrics for Parents."
He's the father of two grown boys according to online sources...
According to the Hudson Valley Parent online publication at HVParent.com:
Dr. Dan O'Hern is a very accomplished medical professional. After practicing pediatrics for the last 30 years in Middletown, he recently retired. But that doesn't mean he's hung up his stethoscope. In fact, he has spend the last few months putting some of his common sense tips into the new book, Common Sense Pediatrics for Parents (PublishAmerica), and he is getting out there pushing his book but more for the practical and timeless advice that parents should know about, but also because a portion of the profits will benefit charites that help homeless children in New York City.
Also, according HVParent.com, Dr. O'Hern once said the following about his book, "Common Sense Pediatrics for Parents represents my thirty years of experience in Pediatrics and was written for the lay person who is either having a child or who has young children and is looking for a guide on what to expect from birth to adolescence. It is filled with information about what to expect in the hospital and how to approach the most common situations that occur in childhood. I have been looking for a good, simple book to recommend to parents to guide them through this and have not found one I could recommend, so hopefully Common Sense Pediatrics for Parents will be it. This is not to be a substitute for your own physician and not everyone will agree with everything but it does dispel many of the myths, and wives tales out there. I went home many nights hoarse from explaining and instructing to my patients and Common Sense Pediatrics for Parents is just a written expression of what I said. I hope it helps those out there that want to instruct themselves on common Pediatric conditions and at least my approach to dealing with them."
As for his credentials, O'Hern goes on to say, "I earned my medical degree at Albany Medical College (1974-1978) and did my internship and residency at the Medical College of Virgina (1978-1981). I spent two years with the Public Health Service in a physician shortage area paying off a Public Health Scholarship and then settled in a private practice in Middletown, NY where I practiced general Pediatrics for the next twenty eight years and am now recently retired."
O'Hern also released a series of YouTube videos offering advice to parents... the following video shows O'Hern offering advice on bed wetting:
Additional images:
6/24/2014
Robert Bastille,
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