Metro Detroit pediatrician accused of molesting teen charged
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By Maurielle Lue Fox 2 News
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WJBK) -- Families trusted him to keep their kids healthy, but now a local pediatrician is charged with molesting a teenage boy.
It's a story Fox 2 first broke in December.
During a Farmington Hills investigation, a 14-year-old boy told police that his pediatrician and longtime family friend, Dr. Jeffrey Dembs, touched him inappropriately almost every weekend over a two year period, at least 70 encounters, and on at least one occasion the assault graduated from touching to oral sex.
According to the report, the teenager and his family attended dinners, boating and jet skiing activities at the doctor's house. The abuse started during a visit when the 14-year-old was there alone.
Months later, police say the doctor took the teenager and a male friend to Las Vegas to watch a fight and that during that five day trip, the 14-year-old and the doctor slept in the same bed and there was more sexual abuse.
Dembs worked as a pediatrician at My Kid's Doc in Novi. It doesn't appear that any abuse is alleged to have taken place at the doctor's office.
In a statement, the doctor's attorney said, "Dr. Jeffrey Dembs took a voluntary leave of absence because it was the appropriate thing to do. Dr. Dembs categorically denies the charges, and I'm looking forward to vindicating him at trial."
There is no word if any other victims have stepped forward, but we're told the Oakland County prosecutor is inquiring about other patients.
Dembs is charged with three counts of criminal sexual conduct.
As a condition of his $150,000 bond, Dembs is not allowed to be around anyone under 18 years old. His next court appearance is February 4.
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