CULPEPER, Va. — A pediatrician was arrested Monday and is facing several charges after a three-month long investigation into the solicitation of a minor in Northern Virginia.
The Culpeper Police Department received a request on Dec. 12, 2023 around 4 a.m. to locate a teenager. The guardians of the teen provided officers with details that led them to a hotel on Willis Lane in Culpeper.
At the location, they reviewed a video that showed the juvenile left the hotel with an unidentified man in a vehicle. The juvenile was later located by authorities at his home in Culpeper County.
Detectives were able to later identify the man as 56-year-old Deepak Patel, of Chester. According to authorities, he began talking to the juvenile on Grindr, an online dating app, and WhatsApp, an instant messaging service. He talked about and proposed performing sexual acts on the teen.
On two separate occasions, he made plans to take the juvenile to hotels where he provided weed, smoking devices, and engaged in sexual acts.
After an investigation, the police department charged Patel with one count of felony solicitation of sexual acts with a minor by electronic means and two counts of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor via sexual acts. He is being held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail.
It has also been determined that Patel was employed as a pediatric hospitalist and was assigned to UVA Health at the Culpeper Medical Center. UVA Health discontinued his services at the time allegations were brought forward.
“This offender would not be brought to justice without the courage of the victim and their family,” said Culpeper Police Department Chief Chris Settle. “Because of their courage, we were able to take the offender into custody. We hope that he will never be a threat to any child ever again. We must continue to have zero tolerance to those who prey on our children, along with the weak, and the vulnerable. All parents should play an active role with their children’s devices, specifically what apps they utilize and who they are communicating with.”
This is an active and ongoing investigation.
Anyone who would like to file a report is encouraged to do so by calling the Culpeper E911 Center at 540-727-7900 or emailing tips@culpeperva.gov. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detective R. Brooking at (540) 829-5504. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can submit tips by calling Culpeper Crime Solvers at 540-727-0300 or submitting an online tip at culpeperpd.org.
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