LAPD

Doctor Accused of Sending Indecent Material to Officer Posing as Teen Girl

An undercover officer had been posing online as a 16-year-old girl.

A 35-year-old physician was arrested Wednesday for allegedly sending explicit material to someone he believed was a 16-year-old girl and investigators were seeking additional possible victims.

Jonathon Ellis of Long Beach was arrested about 9 a.m. after contacting what turned out to be an undercover officer who had been posing online as a 16-year-old girl, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"Ellis also sent a sexually explicit image to the officer," police said. "Ellis studied medicine in Henderson, Nevada and is currently a resident physician in Long Beach."

Details about where he practices medicine was not released.

Ellis is facing multiple counts of sending harmful material to a minor and one count of arranging a meeting with a minor to engage in lewd behavior, according to the LAPD.

Ellis was released from custody about 7:45 p.m. after posting $85,000 bail, according to sheriff's inmate records.

Additional possible victims were encouraged to contact the LAPD's Human Trafficking Unit at (213) 486-0910 to speak with Officer Aaron Korth or Detective Sammy Cruz.

After-hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7.

Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-TIPS.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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