Bruce Hensel, medical correspondent at Los Angeles NBC affiliate for over 30 years, avoids jail time despite soliciting nude photos from child

Bruce Hensel, an ex-medical correspondent for an NBC affiliate station in Los Angeles, was sentenced Monday to two years of probation for having solicited naked pictures of a child with the intent to commit a crime.

Hensel pleaded no contest to the charges, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Although the Emmy Award-winning veteran of 30 years avoided jail time, he is at least now a registered sex offender.

Hensel was arrested in November 2019 after investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department's northeast division looked into probable child sexual exploitation involving the 9-year-old daughter of one of his female acquaintances.

The Times reported that a transcript of the text exchange between Hensel and the child was included in a filing submitted to the California Medical Board last year, revealing the doctor had repeatedly demanded "sexy and private" images.

Hensel, who served as co-director of emergency rooms at Century City Hospital and Sam Dimas Community Hospital, claimed his repeated attempts from March through August 2019 to satisfy an apparent pedophilic lust were an "isolated thing."

The father of the victim noted that Hensel had betrayed his calling as a healer, saying, "Dr. Bruce, you crossed the line and violated the vow of your profession, which is to cause no harm."

The pedophile, listed as the executive producer on two transsexual-focused Showtime movies, had endeared himself to the victim's mother, discussing the possibility of financing a movie in which the little girl would star.

"I have always been good special friends and you feel safe with me so I will protect you and get you something," wrote Hensel in 2019. "They could maybe make you a star if you are willing to take some risks."

After prompting the child to send photos of herself competing in martial arts contests and in other contexts, Hensel reportedly determined they were "not enough."

Hensel ultimately demanded that the girl take pictures "in underwear or less" to secure the starring role.

The Times noted that the child complied after first being reminded by the pedophile to keep their exchange "private." However, her stepfather got wise, and Hensel's pleas to "delete all messages" bookended an archive of guilt.

NBCUniversal Media, which owns the local Los Angeles station, has previously had to deal with stories about former talent who turned out to be perverts, but perhaps not with one with a victim so young.

Other notable NBC-related personalities fired over allegations or confirmations of perversities in recent years include script reader Matt Lauer and veteran journalist Mark Halperin.

NBC News announced Lauer's termination on Nov. 29, 2017, following accusations that he had anally raped his then-NBC colleague Brooke Nevils while at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Concerning the allegations detailed in Ronan Farrow's "Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators," Lauer said, "Some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized, but there is enough truth in these stories to make me feel embarrassed and ashamed."

After losing his job, he and his wife got divorced, which resulted him in losing $20 million in assets and a horse farm. He now lives in New Zealand, reportedly scheming a comeback.

Halperin was canned by NBC News and MSNBC in October 2017, just days after a CNN report detailed numerous women's sexual harassment allegations against him. He issued a statement on Oct. 27, 2017, claiming, "For a long time ... I was part of the problem," and apologizing for the "pain and anguish caused by my past actions."

Dr. Bruce Hensel Charged With Soliciting ‘Sexually Suggestive Pictures’ From Acquaintance’s 9-Year-Oyoutu.be

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