Craig Pope, a doctor at a High Ridge medical practice, has been charged with 15 felonies for allegedly possessing child pornography and molesting four young girls, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reports.
Pope, 50, of Kirkwood has been charged with two counts of child pornography, one count of forcible sodomy, one count of sodomy, seven counts of statutory sodomy and other felonies.
On Feb. 10, St. Louis County Police allegedly found a video and photos of nude children at Pope’s home, according to a probable-cause statement.
The alleged molestation occurred between January 1986 and December 2005, court papers show.
Between 1986 and 1990, Pope allegedly had sexual contact with a girl younger than 14, the report said.
In addition, between 1993 and 2002, Pope allegedly had sexual contact with a different girl younger than 14.
Between 1998 and 2002, he allegedly had sexual contact with a third girl who was younger than 14, and between 2002 and 2005, he allegedly had sexual contact with another girl younger than 17, according to the report.
During the investigation, Pope allegedly “admitted that over the years, he has sexually molested four female children,” the probable-cause statement said.
Three of the girls were 5 or younger when the incidents occurred, and one was between 13 and 16, the report said.
Police did not say that any of the victims were associated with the medical practice.
The forcible sodomy charge is punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison.
One of the two child pornography charges carries a penalty of five to 15 years in prison, and the other one is punishable by up to seven years.
Pope has three other charges that each carry a penalty of up to seven years, and he has four others punishable by up to four years each.
In addition, five charges are unclassified felonies, which carry a minimum of five years each.
Pope reportedly has been working at Dillon Plaza Family Medicine Group in High Ridge.
St. Louis County Police are asking any other possible victims to contact them at 314-889-2341.