Ex-Children's Hospital doc denies child porn charges

BOSTON (WHDH) -- A former Children’s Hospital doctor faced a judge Tuesday, pleading not guilty to child pornography charges.

Dr. Richard Keller was charged with multiple counts of receiving and possessing child pornography.

At the time of his arrest in September, authorities say the 56-year-old was a pediatric endocrinologist at Boston Children's Hospital. And before stepping down in 2011, they say Keller was the medical director at Phillips Academy in Andover for 19 years.

Federal investigators say they confiscated child pornography videos and computer images from Keller's home in Andover. They say he purchased the videos from an overseas company and had them mailed to his previous apartment located on the Phillips Academy campus.

According to a federal indictment, the videos depict children -- including boys ages seven to 16 -- participating in various sexual acts with each other.

Keller, who is married and the father of an infant, was brought into court in shackles and chains. He told the judge, “I am not guilty.”

After the brief arraignment, his attorney, Max Stern, did not elaborate.

When asked if his client had anything to say about the charges, Stern replied, “‘Not guilty,’ is what he said.”

Children’s Hospital released a statement about the case saying, “Boston Children’s Hospital condemns the exploitation of children. When the hospital learned Richard Keller was arrested in September, he was immediately put on administrative leave and subsequently Dr. Keller was terminated.”

Keller continues to be held without bail.