Pediatric Doctor Charged With Receiving Child Porn

A pediatric endocrinologist at Boston Children's Hospital was charged Thursday with receiving child pornography.

Dr. Richard Keller, 56, of Andover, was arrested at his home.

Federal prosecutors allege that Keller purchased and ordered more than 50 DVDs of child pornography online. During a search of his home Thursday, authorities found more than 500 photographs and 60 to 100 DVDs of child pornography, according to an affidavit filed in court.

Keller, who is also a pediatrics instructor at Harvard Medical School, was the medical director at Phillips Academy for 19 years before stepping down in 2011.

He made an initial appearance in federal court Thursday afternoon. A bail hearing was scheduled for Monday.

If convicted, Keller faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison.

The hospital said in a statement that hospital officials, after learning of the allegations, immediately placed Keller on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The hospital said no complaints or concerns have been expressed by any patients or family members about the care Keller provided to them at Children's.

Paige Kelly, a federal public defender who represented Keller in court Thursday, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment.