Crime & Safety

Framingham Pediatric Dentist Arrested After Child Pornography Discovered on Laptop

A Millis resident and Framingham pediatric dentist was arrested at his office and charged with five counts of child pornography Wednesday.

A pediatric dentist with an office in Framingham has been arrested for possession of child pornography following a collaborative and coordinated investigation by local, state and federal authorities, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone said tonight in a press release.

Melvin A. Ehrlich, 52, of Millis, was arrested Wednesday, Dec. 26 in Framingham by Framingham Police and Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office.

Ehrlich faces charges of possession of child pornography (three counts) and distribution of child pornography (two counts). These charges are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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He will be arraigned Thursday in Framingham District Court.

According to authorities, Ehrlich sent his laptop computer to a service provider for maintenance work to remove a reported virus from the computer. 

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While working on Ehrlich’s laptop, the service provider observed downloaded images of child pornography. The service provider called Framingham Police, who immediately launched an investigation.

An extensive forensic investigation was conducted and revealed that Ehrlich used this laptop computer under various user names to download and distribute commercially traded child pornography images. The data recovered was sent to and confirmed to be commercially traded child pornography by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Ehrlich is a pediatric dentist who operates a business called Wee Care for Kids in Framingham on Walnut Street.

While the case remains under development and investigation, there is currently no evidence that presently leads law enforcement to believe that Ehrlich physically abused any children or manufactured any images of child pornography.

Anyone with information should contact Framingham Police 508-872-1212 or the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office Child Abuse Unit at 781-897-8400.

The case is being investigated by Framingham Police, State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Marshal’s Service.  The prosecutor assigned to the case is Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Snook, working with the Middlesex District Attorney's Office Child Abuse Unit and Cyber Enforcement Unit.


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