South Florida Pediatrician Called “Danger to Community” in Child Porn Case

A South Florida pediatrician accused of possessing child pornography will remain in jail after a federal judge ruled he poses a danger to the community.

Michael Mizrachy, 49, was arrested on federal charges Friday and could face up to 20 years in prison. He had previously been arrested in January on similar state charges and released on a $30,000 bond.

Prosecutors allege Mizrachy stored a video of a man raping a girl as young as five in his Yahoo email account. Investigators also uncovered images of children and teens in underwear, taken without their knowledge, on his phone and computer.

During questioning, Mizrachy allegedly admitted being sexually aroused by the images and confessed to being attracted to children as young as 13. Judge Alicia O. Valle denied bond, citing the risk he posed to children. His arraignment is scheduled for March 12.

State Sen. Lauren Book, D-Plantation, whose twins were once Mizrachy’s patients, urged Florida health officials to immediately suspend his license. Despite facing charges, Mizrachy had continued attempting to practice telemedicine.

Book, founder of Lauren’s Kids, a child abuse prevention nonprofit, warned: “Mizrachy’s deviant predilections and illegal actions pose a unique and targeted threat to the children of our state.”