CALIFORNIA— A Santa Ana physician was accused of possession of around 1,000 images of child pornography on the computer he used for work. A warrant was generated and he was arrested on Tuesday for the same.
Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said that Dr. Pete Thomas of Coastline Podiatry in Santa Ana had to present himself in front of a judge when an arrest warrant was issued for him.
Thomas was sent to the police by the judge, where he surrendered himself. He was booked on one count of felony for the possession of child pornography, Bertagna said. He came out on Tuesday night on $50,000 bail.
Thomas, 58, of Long Beach, had called in a computer technician to install new printing software on the office’s system. It was when this technician spotted the questionable material on his computer while installing the software, that the doctor came under suspicion, Bertagna said.
Bertagna said that some of the images allegedly depicted minor children from 7 years old to early teenagers, engaging in sexual acts with adults or other minors.
Police believes that Dr. Pete Thomas did not have any contact with the children depicted in the photos.