Merced pediatrician in court in child porn case, surrenders passport
.JPG "Dr. Carlos Teran Miranda is accused of planting a hidden camera in a patient bathroom at this Golden Valley Health Centers clinic where he worked in Merced. He appeared Wednesday in court.")
A pediatrician accused of planting a camera in a patient restroom in a local clinic made his first court appearance Wednesday, but did not enter a plea.
Dr. Carlos Teran Miranda, 35, was charged in February with a felony count of possession of child pornography and a misdemeanor count of unauthorized invasion of privacy.
Defense attorney Thomas Fleming asked Judge David W. Moranda for more time to review evidence in the case. The judge rescheduled the arraignment for May 11 in Merced Superior Court.
Teran Miranda did, however, surrender his Bolivian passport to the judge and agreed not to practice medicine pending the outcome of the case.
The pediatrician was arrested on the morning of Feb. 3 and was released later that day after posting $25,000 bail. The investigation began after police responded Jan. 30 to the Golden Valley Health Centers at 737 W. Childs Ave., Suite C, in Merced to investigate a report of a hidden camera discovered inside a floral arrangement placed on the back of a toilet.
According to search warrant affidavits, the camera’s memory card contained video footage that showed the pediatrician, identified by his name tag, setting up the camera in the restroom. The camera’s memory card also contained video clips of a female adult and three children using the toilet.
If convicted, Teran Miranda would have to register as a sex offender and would face up to three years in state prison, according to the Merced County District Attorney’s Office.
The Medical Board of California is also investigating the case. Attorney Michael Brummel from the attorney general’s office was present at Wednesday’s proceedings on behalf of the medical board.
Cassandra Hockenson, a medical board spokeswoman, said the board is looking into Teran Miranda’s case and will take the appropriate administrative action with regard to his medical license.
Teran Miranda had worked at Golden Valley Health Centers since 2013.
This story was originally published April 1, 2015 at 12:45 PM with the headline "Merced pediatrician in court in child porn case, surrenders passport."