A Florida doctor is accused of coercing at least 10 minors to produce child sexual abuse material, including a 13-year-old girl who died after he instructed her to hang herself, federal prosecutors announced Monday.
Stephen Andrew Leedy, 59, a palliative care doctor in the Tampa Bay area who allegedly went by “maximumuncle#9112,” was charged with three counts of production of child sexual abuse material and two counts of coercing or enticing a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Leedy’s attorneys Bjorn Brunvand and Lucas Fleming told HuffPost in a statement that their client “adamantly denies the charges.”
“It is particularly important in moments like this when someone is being accused of very troubling allegations, that we afford him the presumption of innocence,” the statement read. “We will be entering a not guilty plea at the earliest opportunity and look forward to vigorously defending Dr. Leedy in court.”
In a motion for detention from the U.S. attorney’s office for the Middle District of Florida, obtained by HuffPost, Leedy is accused of instructing the minors to produce sexually explicit images of themselves and, in many cases, directing them to cut, choke and hang themselves. He never revealed his true identity online and concealed himself when video chatting by using a black screen, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
The investigation began in November 2022, when the 13-year-old girl was discovered dead inside her bathroom with her phone propped up in front of her, according to the motion. Authorities who searched the phone discovered she had been engaging in sexually explicit conversations with someone whom prosecutors allege is Leedy.
In the conversations, the girl was directed to produce graphic images of herself and engage in “daily hangings,” according to the motion.
A search of a social media account that allegedly belonged to Leedy revealed more conversations instructing minors to harm themselves for the user’s sexual gratification.
“The conversations continually revolved around his control over the minor victim, commenting on how ‘obedient’ they are and asking at least one minor victim to refer to him as ‘my Lord,’” prosecutors wrote in the motion.
Prosecutors did not specify what social media platform Leedy allegedly used to communicate with the minors.
Court records show Leedy was taken into custody on Dec. 20. He was in Georgia at the time of his arrest and is awaiting extradition to Florida, according to court records. Brunvand confirmed to HuffPost that his client is currently in custody in a federal prison in Atlanta.
According to WFTS-TV, an ABC affiliate in Tampa, Leedy’s wife, Lynda Leedy, is chief administrative officer of the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County, which includes Tampa.
In a statement addressing the allegations, the board’s chief executive, Beth Houghton, told WFTS that “Ms. Leedy is a valued member of JWB’s Executive Leadership Team, where she holds herself and others to the highest standards of ethical and professional behavior and possesses impeccable integrity.
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“While this news leaves us stunned and saddened for Ms. Leedy, her family, and any potential victims in this case, I have the utmost confidence in her ability to continue to carry out JWB’s mission of strengthening the lives of our county’s children and families.”
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.