Longtime Middletown, N.Y., pediatrician facing child pornography charges

MIDDLETON, N.Y. (WABC) -- A longtime pediatrician is facing charges of distribution and possession of child pornography.

On Tuesday, Dr. Daniel O'Hern was arrested at his Cape Cod, Mass., apartment, and his computers and electronics were hauled away as evidence.

O'Hern spent nearly 30 years working as a pediatrician in Middletown, N.Y.

"He was great," said former patient John Stelmack. "He was just a lot of fun as a pediatrician. He was the one you never minded getting a shot from."

O'Hern is accused of sharing pornographic videos of children online. In the criminal complaint, some of the children were described as "prepubescent."

At the Goshen, N.Y., home he once shared with his now estranged wife, a woman responded. "I don't know what you're talking about," she said when she answered the door.

O'Hern last worked part time as a pediatrician at Crystal Run Healthcare. He was hired there in 2011.

A spokesperson for Crystal Run said in a statement, "We are shocked and saddened to hear of the accusations involving doctor O'Hern."

Most recently, O'Hern posted parenting advice for Hudson Valley Parent magazine and wrote a book called "Common Sense Pediatrics for Parents."

"It's scary. It's scary to know that someone that's been practicing with children for so many years, that this could happen," said Middletown parent Fran Glickman who has three children. "I hope it's not true."

O'Hern is due in federal court Friday in Boston. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the most serious charges.