Sand Mountain Reporter

An Albertville pediatrician facing a federal child pornography charge was scheduled to undergo an examination by a forensic psychologist Friday.

According to the order issued by U.S. Judge Harwell G. Davis III on Oct. 30, the exam of Dr. Michael Roy Sharpe was “to determine whether the defendant is presently suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him incompetent to understand the proceedings against him or properly assist in his own defense and whether he was mentally competent at the time of the alleged offense.”

Psychologist Dr. Kimberly Ackerson was to perform the examination at the Jefferson County Jail.

Jail officials could not confirm by The Reporter’s deadline Monday if the exam happened as scheduled.

On Oct. 6, federal authorities arrested Sharpe, 63, of Guntersville, on a charge of possessing child pornography.

The federal indictment charges Sharpe with possessing a cellular phone containing images of child pornography between Feb. 16 and Feb. 25.

The maximum sentence for possession of child pornography is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Sharpe had practiced at Child Life Pediatrics on West Main Street in Albertville before Marshall County authorities arrested and charged the doctor with second-degree rape, second-degree sodomy and possession of child pornography in February. Those charges stem from sex crimes allegedly involving a teenage patient.

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Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

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