Florida Doctor Arrested For Sending Nude Photos, Sexual Messages To 13-Year-Old Child

A Florida doctor was arrested Tuesday for sending sexual text messages and nude photos of himself to a 13-year-old child.

The accused was identified as Stewart Bitman, 64, of Parkland. Bitman has been charged with three counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor and one count of solicitation of a minor, Broward County Sheriff’s Office online booking records said, the Sun-Sentinel reported.

The gender of the child was not revealed by the authorities.

Authorities said the accused was being held in the Broward County Jail pending a bond hearing.

Bitman was a gastroenterologist affiliated with many hospitals in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. He was arrested as part of a joint investigation between the sheriff’s office’s Internet Crimes Against Children detectives and the Coral Springs Police Department, the Miami Herald reported.

On Tuesday, a SWAT team arrived at Bitman's house and searched. They then arrested Bitman and seized multiple electronic devices as part of the probe.

The sheriff's office said in April 2020 Bitman “sent a number of sexual text messages and nude photos of himself to a 13-year-old child,” Miami Herald reported, citing a news release stated.

“Detectives believe Bitman knew he was communicating with a minor, and while attempting to solicit victims, he portrayed himself as a teenage boy,” the news release said.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, in one of the text messages sent to the child, Bitman allegedly asked if he or she wanted to see him urinate.

Bitman's medical license with the state showed he had no previous disciplinary actions. The record showed he has privileges at Coral Springs Medical Center and Northwest Medical Center.

“Dr. Bitman is not employed by our system,” Jennifer Smith, associate vice president, corporate communications for Broward Health, said, according to the Miami Herald. “We have taken immediate action to remove all privileges with our system. Our heart goes out to all those affected.”

Following the latest arrest, local detectives urged the public to come forward with any information regarding Bitman or who has a child who may have been a victim of Bitman’s.

This is the second case in two weeks where a doctor living in Parkland was arrested on child pornography allegations.

In the other unrelated case, a pediatrician was arrested for allegedly sending nude photos of himself to a child. He was also accused of photographing girls while they were sleeping or at a pool party. The accused was identified as Micahael Mizrachy, 49.