Doctor connected with hospital charged with child sex crimes

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Huntersville police arrested David Shope, 41, Thursday following an eight-month long investigation by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Cyber Crimes Unit.

On Feb. 2, the unit began an investigation into the exchange of illegal pornographic material by Shope on the Internet, according to police.

On Sept. 30, police executed a search warrant, and they arrested Shope the following day and charged him with numerous offenses including second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

On Thursday, Shope’s attorney sent a statement: "There is no allegation of any wrongdoing whatsoever with respect to his position as a physician. We look forward to addressing the allegations in court.”

Search warrants obtained by Channel 9 showed detectives found files on Shope’s computer showing girls, about ages 8 and 14, engaged in sexual activity. On another document, police said there was a picture of a girl about 3 to 6 years old and on another the girls were 4, 8 and 11.

Channel 9 learned Shope had connections to Novant Hospital.

"While not employed by Novant Health, Dr. David Shope does have hospital privileges at two of our hospitals,” Novant officials said in an email. “Novant Health takes this matter seriously and has worked with medical staff leadership to take all appropriate steps to protect our patients."

Shope was released from jail on $120,000 bond.  Channel 9 went to his home Thursday. Someone came to the door but did not open it.

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