An ex-medical correspondent for an NBC-affiliate station based in Los Angeles received no jail time after he pleaded no contest to asking a 9-year-old girl to send him “sexy and private” nude photos, according to a report.
Dr. Bruce Hensel, 74, apologized to the young victim’s family and even hugged her father — who is an acquaintance — as he entered his plea in an LA courtroom on Monday, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“I’m terribly sorry for what happened. I’ve done everything I can to understand this isolated thing,” he said when pleading no contest to one count of contacting a minor with the intent to commit a crime.
The ex-TV doctor for KNBC claimed he’d never done anything like this before and vowed to never do it again while speaking about his faith in God, according to the report.
Hensel received two years of probation and must register as a sex offender as part of his sentence, the newspaper said.
He texted the child numerous times between March and August in 2019, according to records submitted to the state Medical Board.
A transcript of text messages submitted last year showed Hensel requested photos from the girl that were “sexy and private,” the LA Times reported.
The victim’s father forgave Hensel – and embraced him — in court after learning he underwent treatment since his arrest, but earlier in the hearing had admonished the creep’s behavior, according to the report.
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