A Maryland pediatrician, once trusted with the care of children, has now been sentenced to three decades behind bars for his grave misconduct. Ernesto Cesar Torres, aged 74, faced the somber judgment on December 8 in a Frederick County courtroom, having earlier been found guilty of sexually abusing an 11-year-old patient. In a disturbing defense, Torres claimed that “demonic entities” had influenced his patients to falsely accuse him of such egregious acts.

This case, brought to light by the State’s Attorney’s Office, is just the tip of the iceberg as Torres was embroiled in over 97 criminal charges. These accusations spanned decades, involving the abuse of numerous patients. However, the court decided to handle the charges separately for each victim.

Back in March, the court found Torres guilty of sexually abusing a minor, along with three counts of third-degree sexual offenses, specifically tied to the young victim identified in court documents as “M.H.” The case against him began when the victim’s mother contacted the Frederick Police on May 7, 2019, reporting the abuse her daughter suffered during what was supposed to be a routine pediatric examination.

Prosecutor Outlines “Bold and Brazen” Accusations Against Ernesto Torres

The mother recounted how she had taken her daughter to Torres for a minor skin issue, only to learn later that the doctor had made the child uncomfortable by inappropriately touching her during the examination. According to the young girl, Torres had placed his hand down her pants, a revelation that led to the subsequent police investigation and his eventual conviction.

According to prosecutors, the victim’s mom called Frederick Police on May 7, 2019 to report that her daughter had been sexually abused during a pediatric exam. She told police that she’d brought her daughter into the doctor’s office for a mild skin condition. The child told her mother that Torres, per the statement, “made her uncomfortable by placing his hand down her pants and touching her ‘down there’” during the exam.

The victim also described Torres rubbing her stomach and “repeatedly kissing her.” 

During an interview with Child Protective Services and the Child Advocacy Center, authorities said M.H. described Torres sliding his hands down her pants and rubbing her vaginal area.

The investigation that followed uncovered at least 24 alleged female victims between 1980 and 2018, CBS News reported. 

“Some of the parents said they thought he was doing an abdominal sort of survey,” Frederick County State’s Attorney Charlie Smith told the outlet. “Meanwhile, he had his hand down her pants and was committing a sex offense right in front of the mother. So, he was definitely bold and brazen in what he did.”

Ernesto Cesar Torres Claims He Was a Prophet and His Patients Were Possessed

In court Dec. 8, Smith said Torres tried blame his alleged victims and appeared to show no remorse.

“He did not take responsibility for his actions,” Smith contended. “He said he was a prophet in a previous life and that there were demonic entities that were possessing these young girls into lying on him, so to speak, and saying what they were saying, which I thought was just egregious.” 

Smith described the 74-year-old’s attempt to shift responsibility to those he’d hurt as “just horrible.” 

“He already traumatized them—sexually molesting them,” he said. “To traumatize this young girl again by saying she’s possessed by demons and that’s why she came forward was just egregious.”

While addressing the court, the young victim also described the long-term effect of the abuse.

“I now can’t trust male authority,” she said, according to the statement from prosecutors. “My childhood was taken away from me.”

Her mother explained how she had taken her children to Torres, who she had trusted, for regular visits for 15 years.

“I had no idea what my child was living through,” she said in court. “My trust in him was shattered and I will carry this pain for the rest of my life; I still carry the guilt.”

Prosecutor Plans to Pursue Other Cases Against Ernesto Cesar Torres

During the court hearing, Torres received credit for the 2,087 days he’s already served behind bars. Following his release, he’ll be ordered to serve five years of supervised probation.

Now, Smith plans to pursue the other outstanding cases against Torres.

“We’re looking forward to prosecuting the other cases and getting consecutive sentences so that the number of years he has to serve is going to be far longer than the number of days he has left on this earth,” Smith told CBS News. “We’re in talks with the parents and the young ladies right now. We have every intention to make sure he’s held responsible for the remaining victims.”

He also urged other potential victims who may have suffered abuse to come forward to share their own stories with prosecutors.