A former pediatrician from Frederick, Maryland, Ernesto Cesar Torres, age 74, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after being convicted of long-term misconduct involving patients under his care. The sentencing was issued by a Frederick County judge on Monday, following Torres’ conviction on several charges, including Sexual Abuse of a Minor and three counts of Third-Degree Sex Offense.
Torres previously operated a pediatric medical practice in Frederick for decades. According to court records, he was found guilty in March on 97 criminal charges, reflecting a pattern of inappropriate behavior toward multiple young patients over an extended period of time. Authorities stated that the incidents spanned more than forty years and came to light after one family stepped forward.
The investigation began on May 7, 2019, when the Frederick Police Department received a complaint from a mother who reported that her 11-year-old daughter felt uncomfortable during a medical appointment. The visit had initially been scheduled to address a minor skin concern. After hearing her daughter’s account, the mother alerted law enforcement. Police then contacted Child Protective Services, which conducted a formal interview with the child. Based on the findings, Torres was taken into custody at his medical practice shortly thereafter.
During the sentencing hearing, several individuals affected by Torres’ actions addressed the court. One survivor described the lasting emotional impact, explaining that the experience affected trust and personal development. A parent of one of the victims also spoke, expressing deep concern and heartbreak, emphasizing that she had trusted Torres as her children’s doctor for many years and had no indication that anything was wrong. She shared how the situation had profoundly affected her family and how the sense of betrayal continues to weigh heavily on her.
After completing his prison sentence, Torres will be required to serve five years of supervised probation, according to the court’s ruling. The case has prompted renewed conversations about safeguarding young patients, oversight within medical practices, and the importance of reporting concerns promptly.
