Physique digicam video launched after physician’s arrest
FOX 13’s Kylie Jones stories on new police physique digicam footage of Dr. Stephen Leedy’s arrest. Leedy is a Tampa space physician who was arrested and charged with sexually exploiting minors.
TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa Bay space physician’s medical license is beneath an emergency suspension order, after he was accused of sexually exploiting youngsters on-line.
In accordance with the Division of Justice, Stephen Leedy, 59, a palliative care physician, was arrested and charged with three counts of manufacturing of kid sexual abuse materials and two counts of coercing or engaging a minor to have interaction in sexual exercise.
In accordance with the Florida Well being Division’s web site, an emergency suspension order on Leedy’s license was filed on Tuesday. Below an emergency suspension, the well being division stated the licensed practitioner can’t apply in Florida whereas their license is suspended.
Courtroom paperwork allege that Leedy used the title “maximumuncle#9112” to sexually exploit and victimize roughly 10 minors on-line. In on-line conversations and video chats, Leedy instructed the minors to supply sexually express photographs of themselves and directed them to chop, choke and grasp themselves, in line with the Division of Justice.
Investigators stated one of many victims was as younger as 11 or 12 years previous when she first began speaking to Leedy.
In November 2021, the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace stated one of many alleged victims, a 13-year-old woman, was discovered lifeless in her toilet after she hung herself in entrance of her telephone in a fashion in step with directions Leedy had given her previously.
In accordance with courtroom paperwork, Leedy’s conversations with different minors on a social media app additionally revolved across the manufacturing of kid pornography and self-harm. Investigators stated Leedy ‘hid behind the cloak of anonymity’ by both mendacity about his id or utilizing a black display screen in video calls with the victims.
They stated Leedy allegedly requested at the very least one sufferer to seek advice from him as ‘my Lord.’
The Holly Springs Police Division in Georgia stated a BOLO for Leedy was put out on December 19. That very same night, Holly Springs law enforcement officials noticed Leedy on the interstate in Cherokee County, Georgia and pulled his automobile over.
As Leedy was taken out of the automobile and handcuffed, he may very well be heard on an officer’s physique digicam footage asking what was occurring. Leedy was later heard saying he assumed it was a case of mistaken id, and informed officers that he was a doctor.
Police stated Leedy was arrested after which taken into custody by brokers with the FBI-Atlanta workplace. The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace stated Leedy is in U.S. Marshal’s custody in Atlanta, and he’s anticipated to be introduced again to the Tampa Bay space.
Leedy’s attorneys, Bjorn Brunvand and Lucas Fleming, despatched the next assertion to FOX 13:
“Our consumer, Stephen Leedy adamantly denies the costs which were filed towards him in federal courtroom. It’s notably necessary in moments like this when somebody is being accused of very troubling allegations, that we afford him the presumption of innocence. We shall be getting into a not responsible plea on the earliest alternative and look ahead to vigorously defending Dr. Leedy in courtroom.”
It’s not clear the place Leedy was most just lately employed, however he has an intensive historical past of involvement within the medical group across the Bay Space.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
