FRAMINGHAM, MA – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced today that a former pediatric dentist with an office in Framingham has been sentenced after pleading guilty to five indictments charging him with possession and distribution of child pornography for images allegedly found on his laptop computer.
On December 18, Melvin A. Ehrlich, 52, of Millis, pleaded guilty to charges of distribution of visual material showing a child in a state of nudity or sexual conduct (2 counts), and possession of child pornography (3 counts). Middlesex Superior Court Judge Mitchell H. Kaplan sentenced Ehrlich to one year in the Middlesex County House of Correction in Billerica and three years’ probation. The District Attorney’s office had requested two to three years in state prison and five years’ probation. Judge Kaplan stayed the sentence until December 29.
“It was disturbing to find out that someone who had been a trusted medical professional was involved in child pornography,” said District Attorney Ryan. “It’s frightening to think about the number of times people brought their children to Ehrlich’s dental practice having no idea that in his down time he was looking at disturbing and graphic images of other young people who were being exploited. This case is a reminder that those who engage in child pornography may be in any profession, of any age, and of any educational level.”
According to authorities, in the spring of 2013, Ehrlich made arrangements to have his personal laptop computer picked up at his dental office by a Framingham business for maintenance work to remove a reported virus from the computer. While working on Ehrlich’s laptop, a technician observed downloaded images of child pornography. The business called Framingham Police, who immediately launched an investigation.
On April 11, 2013, Ehrlich was arraigned on charges related to child pornography in Framingham District Court. An extensive forensic investigation was conducted and revealed that Ehrlich used this personal laptop computer under various user names to download and distribute commercially traded child pornography images. The data recovered was sent to and confirmed to be commercially traded child pornography by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
At the time of this incident, Ehrlich was a pediatric dentist who operated a business called Wee Care for Kids in Framingham. The investigation did not reveal any evidence that Ehrlich abused any of his patients or manufactured any images of child pornography. Ehrlich is no longer employed as a pediatric dentist.
The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Kristin Noto of the Special Investigations Unit of the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by Framingham Police, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Child Protection and Cyber Protection Units within the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.
Source: Middlesex District Attorney, Press Release
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