FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Dr. Michael Mizrachy, a Broward County pediatrician, bonded out of the county’s main jail on Wednesday evening facing charges related to child pornography, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Mizrachy appeared in front of Broward County Judge Corey Amanda Cawthon, who ordered him to stay away from minors, except for supervised visitations with his two children.
“I have nothing to say at this time,” Mizrachy said as he left the jail.
Deputies arrested Mizrachy, 49, on Tuesday after the Internet Crimes Against Children task force received a tip in June and zeroed in on Mizrachy with search warrants.
Detectives reported finding a video in his possession that shows a man sexually assaulting a child who appears to be 8 to 10 years old. They also found evidence that Mizrachy used the Kik Messenger app to communicate with a teenager who sent him sexually explicit images.
According to Mizrachy’s Florida Department of Health’s practitioner profile, he used to have staff privileges at the Broward General Medical Center, Plantation General Hospital, and Memorial Hospital West and his primary practice was at West Broward Pediatrics in Plantation.
Local 10 News’ Sanela Sabovic spoke to two parents of children that were patients of Dr. Mizrachy. They said he was well liked and a wonderful doctor, saying they were shocked to learn of the allegations and upset that they trusted this man with the care of their kids.
“I feel sick to my stomach,” said a mother from Davie who did not want to give her name.
She said her 9-year-old daughter saw Mizrachy just this past October.
“As my daughter is getting older, I did find it to be a little weird that my 9-year-old was being looked at by a male pediatrician,” she said.
Mizrachy saw countless patients while working as a pediatrician at West Broward Pediatrics in Plantation.
“We trusted him to make sure that our child stayed safe and he was not in a safe place,” said parent Jaime Dwork.
Many parents Local 10 spoke with said Mizrachy came highly recommended and with glowing reviews.
“I saw a kind and compassionate man who treated my family and I with respect,” Dwork said.
Florida State Senator Lauren Book, who is a survivor of sexual abuse and an advocate for childhood abuse survivors, said her children were once patients of Mizrachy and that she never suspected what was allegedly going on in secret.
West Broward Pediatrics released a statement reporting Mizrachy’s employment there was terminated last year and there is no evidence that any crimes were committed in the course of his professional duties.
Mizrachy is facing charges of misrepresenting his age while using a computer to solicit, lure or seduce a child, and two counts of possession, control, or intentional viewing of content depicting child sex conduct. His bond is set at $30,000.
BSO ICAC Detective Erica Rockey is asking anyone with information about Mizrachy to call her at 954-888-1570 or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.