A New York dentist pleaded guilty to drug and child pornography charges on Oct. 10, according to federal prosecutors. He was arrested and charged with the crimes two years ago.
Federal authorities in Brooklyn announced that the defendant, age 61, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of child pornography. They said that the dentist, who had been in practice for more than 30 years, threw salacious parties where he distributed meth to guests. He also collected and viewed child pornography.
The defendant was busted after he received a sizable amount of methamphetamine from a police informant in exchange for dental care. According to court papers, the informant witnessed the defendant and his office workers taking illegal drugs. He further claimed that the defendant showed him images of child pornography that he stored on his phone.
Charges like these are taken seriously by government prosecutors. With the help of a criminal defense attorney, it may be possible to build a strong defense and get the charges reduced or dismissed. For example, an attorney could find that authorities violated a defendant’s rights at some point during the arrest process. Such a discovery could cause the case to be dismissed. In other cases, legal counsel may be able to enter into a plea negotiation with prosecutors that lowers the charges. This sort of arrangement requires the defendant to plead guilty, but it could also significantly reduce the penalties. After assessing the evidence, a criminal defense attorney could recommend a defense strategy that best fits the particulars of the case.
Source: New York Daily News, “Pervy dentist, hooked on meth, gets drilled on child pornography charges“, Andrew Keshner, Oct. 10, 2017
