FORMER FREDERICK, MD PEDIATRICIAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 30 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR AND THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE (X3)
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 8, 2025
FORMER FREDERICK, MD PEDIATRICIAN SENTENCED TO SERVE 30 YEARS IN THE DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS FOR SEX ABUSE OF A MINOR AND THIRD-DEGREE SEX OFFENSE (X3)
Frederick, MD – Today, in Frederick County Circuit Court, Judge William R. Nicklas sentenced 74-year-old Ernesto Cesar Torres, of Frederick, MD to serve 30 years in the Division of Corrections for Sexual Abuse of a Minor and three counts of Third-Degree Sex Offense. The Defendant, a former pediatrician in Frederick County, MD, faced over 97 criminal charges of sexually abusing dozens of his juvenile patients, spanning four decades. The Court ordered the indictment be severed by victim and the state proceeded on Count Twenty-Four, Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Counts Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, and Twenty-Seven, Sexual Offense in the Third Degree, representing three years of sexual abuse from age 9-11. On March 20, 2025, a Frederick County Circuit Court jury found the Defendant guilty on all counts for victim M.H. The Defendant will received credit for 2,087 days served in the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.
On May 7, 2019, Frederick Police received a call from the mother of an 11-year-old victim, to report that her child had been sexually abused by the Defendant during a pediatric exam in his office. The mother told police she brought her child to Torres to treat a mild skin condition, but that her child told her mother Torres made her uncomfortable by placing his hand down her pants and touching her “down there.” In addition, the child described Torres’ rubbing her stomach repeatedly and kissing her. The victim told her parents that she felt uncomfortable, so the family changed pediatric practices. FPD contacted Child Protective Services and the Child Advocacy Center who conducted a forensic interview with the victim. The victim revealed in a forensic interview that the Defendant slide his hands down her pants and rub the child’s vaginal area with his palm and fingers. The Defendant was subsequently arrested at his medical practice.
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith said, “This is truly a story of perseverance both by the victim and the prosecutors. Neither would be discouraged or dissuaded, and now this child predator will spend 25 more years in jail. What he had to say about the victims at sentencing was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever endured in a courtroom. The only thing demonic about this case is this defendant’s actions.”
At Sentencing, M.H. told the Court, “I now can’t trust male authority. My childhood was taken away from me.”
The mother of M.H. also addressed the Court stating, “For 15 years my children saw him regularly. I trusted him. I had no idea what my child was living through. My trust in him was shattered and I will carry this pain for the rest of my life; I still carry the guilt.”
Upon release, the Defendant will serve five years of supervised probation including COMET supervision and all standard conditions. Special conditions include, Tier III Sex Offender registration, no contact with the victims or their families and lifetime sex offender supervision on the registry.
Chief Counsel Joyce King and Assistant State’s Attorney Tammy Leache represented the State of Maryland.
Press Contact:
Jacqueline Rottmann
Court Media Relations Officer
301-600-2972
100 West Patrick Street
Frederick, Maryland 21701
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