_UPDATE 9/15/12: [Dr. Richard Keller’s resignation from Andover in May 2011 unrelated to Thursday’s charges.](http://www.phillipian.net/articles/2012/09/15/kellers-resignation-unrelated-receipt-child-pornography-charges)_
Dr. Richard Keller, former Medical Director at Isham Health Center for 19 years, was arrested and charged with receipt of child pornography this morning.
The U.S. Attorneys’ Office called the Academy at around 9 a.m. on Thursday from Keller’s off-campus home in Andover, said Head of School John Palfrey at a meeting open to students, faculty and staff in Cochran Chapel this afternoon. The office alerted the school that there was reason to believe that Keller had received child pornography and that an investigation was pending.
At 1 p.m. the matter was brought to a judge, who signed official documents that formally charged Keller with the offense.
Keller was arraigned later this afternoon. If convicted, Keller will face between five and 20 years in prison, followed by lifetime supervision and a $250,000 fine, according to a press release published by the U.S. Attorneys’ Office.
Between July 2009 and January 2011, Keller allegedly purchased over 50 DVDs of child pornography online, according to the press release. More than 500 pornographic photographs and between 60 to 100 DVDs, portraying minors engaging in “sexually explicit conduct,” have already been allegedly discovered in a search of Keller’s home.
Some of the child pornography purchased was delivered to Isham Health Center, where Keller’s office was located, according to the affidavit issued by the U.S. Attorneys’ Office.
Keller is currently a pediatric endocrinologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and an Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. He stepped down from his position of Medical Director at Andover in May of 2011 for personal reasons and is no longer employed by the school. Keller no longer resides on Academy property, according to Christina DiIorio-Sterling, public affairs officer at the U.S. Attorneys’ Office, in a phone interview with The Phillipian.
Immediately following the allegations, Boston Children’s Hospital put Keller on administrative leave pending the results of the investigation, according to a statement the hospital gave to “The Boston Globe.”
The statement also said that the hospital received no complaints from patients or families about Keller during his time there.
In addition to his role as Medical Director, Keller taught Personal and Community Education (PACE) classes while at Andover.
Head of School John Palfrey notified students, faculty and staff of the situation in an e-mail Thursday afternoon. He and Rebecca Sykes, Associate Head of School, held a meeting open to the Andover community in the Chapel at 3 p.m. on Thursday to address the situation and answer questions.
In an e-mail to the Andover community, Palfrey wrote, “The safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. We are fully assisting the U.S. Attorneys’ Office to ensure that investigators have the information they need in order to perform their duties as it relates to this case.”
According to DiIorio-Sterling, the Academy was notified of Dr. Keller’s arrest Thursday morning and has been cooperating fully with the investigation.
Law enforcement reported that they discovered Keller’s transactions in a search of the customer database of a movie production company, which sold explicit DVDs and streaming media featuring underage boys on their website, according to the Criminal Complaint at the United States District Court. Keller allegedly received 19 orders between July 2009 and January 2011, including 50 DVDs that totaled over $2695, according to the affidavit.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service began investigating the company in October 2010.
On August 4, 2011, the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) issued an administrative subpoena to Comcast Cable Communications for information concerning an e-mail address discovered during the search of the company’s customer database, according to the affidavit. The affidavit also revealed that on May 2, 2012, CEOS issued an additional subpoena to Comcast Cable Communications.
These subpoenas yielded records which confirmed that the e-mail address belonged to Keller. The records also showed the addresses of his previous and current residences.
Yesterday the court authorized a search warrant for Keller’s current address.
Keller’s alleged receipt of child pornography violated Title 18 United States Code, which states that “prohibits a person from receiving any visual depiction using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or that has been mailed or so shipped or transported, by any means including a computer, if the producing of such visual depiction involved the use of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct and such visual depiction is of such conduct.”
Keller will be tried in a court of law following all investigations.
The Academy is encouraging members of the community to utilize regular channels of support, including Graham House, the Dean of Students Office, House Counselors, Cluster Deans and other adult mentors on campus.
Community members with information about Keller’s alleged criminal activities are urged to call the U.S. Attorneys’ Office at 617-748-3274.
