SEBRING — A doctor charged Wednesday with eight counts of child porn hung himself in his cell at the Highlands jail overnight, reports from Sebring say.

Dr. Richard Spindler, 70, had been charged following an investigation into an alleged sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Spindler was a contracted physician in the Sebring hospital emergency room.

No details were immediately available, but sources said they believed Spindler used sheets to hang himself. He was found dead in his cell.

Spindler, of 1515 Booth Drive, Sebring, was jailed for:

• Sexual battery;
• Lewd or lascivious battery;
• Lewd or lascivious conduct;
• Promoting sexual performance by a child;
• Possession of child pornography;
• Child abuse; and
• Contributing to the dependency of a minor.

Sheriff Susan Benton said Wednesday that Spindler might have had a history of such behavior with young girls.

"As in many cases such as this one, it appears the suspect may have a history of this type of interaction with other young girls," Benton said.

She said the investigation into the alleged sex crimes began in June after she received a phone call from a person seeking help for a friend.

"The friend was having difficulty with her young daughter and was fearful that her daughter was being lured by an older person," the sheriff said.

Benton assigned a victim advocate to assist the mother in counseling and providing resources to help coach her daughter.

However, details concerning a supposed sexual battery surfaced during a counseling session between the victim advocate and the girl.

That information was referred to Lt. John Chess, head of the sheriff's Criminal Investigations Unit, the sheriff said.

Investigation of the case fell to Sgt. Jamie Casey and detective Jamie Davidson, who received search warrants with the help of Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin for Dr. Spindler's home, personal vehicles, and his home and work computers.

Spindler was an independent contractor with Sebring Emergency Physicians LLC. That company provides emergency room services for Highlands Regional Medical Center.

According to the Florida Department of Health online database, Spindler had been a licensed Florida physician since Aug. 31, 1983.

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