PA Pediatrician Admits Molesting Dozens Of Children, Infants: AG

A 70-year-old pediatrician who this summer was charged with sexually abusing 30 children — including some as young as two weeks old — at his Pennsylvania practice has pleaded guilty, authorities with the attorney general's office announced this week.

Dr. Johnnie Barto of Johnstown pleaded guilty to multiple counts of aggravated indecent assault, which are second-degree felonies, in addition to multiple counts of indecent assault and endangering the welfare of children.

Barto, who is currently jailed, will be sentenced on Jan. 31, 2019, pending a sexual offenders assessment.

His medical license has been suspended.

Authorities say Barto assaulted his patients, who were both boys and girls, in an examination room at Laurel Pediatric Associates in Cambria County, as well as at hospitals in that area.

Charges were first filed against Barto after authorities determined he sexually abused a 12-year-old. Further investigation revealed there were 29 additional victims and more charges were filed.

Most victims were between 8 and 12 years old, but there were victims who were just weeks old when they were abused by the pediatrician, investigators said. Investigators believe the abuse spans from as far back as the 1980s to as recently as within the last year.

Authorities allege the doctor groped girls' breasts, and touched both male and female genitals in inappropriate ways that were completely inconsistent with standard medical protocol.

One infant girl was two weeks old when Barto sexually assaulted her, causing her to cry out in pain, according to the Attorney General. Another girl was 21 months old when Barto assaulted her on seven separate office visits, the Attorney General said.

"Investigators found that the pediatrician either waited for the parents of his victims to leave the exam room, used his own body as a shield to block parents from seeing his assault on the victim or claimed the assaults were part of a standard medical exam," information from the Attorney General's office said.

"Barto used his position of authority as a pediatrician – the family doctor everyone relied on to treat and heal their children – and abused it to feed his own, sick sexual desires," Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at the time charges were filed.

Barto's former practice has issued a statement in an attempt to reassure patients at the time he was charged.

"Please know that, while this is a very difficult time for all of us, our first priority remains ensuring that your family continues to receive the very best care. We ask that you continue to reassure your children that our doctors and staff are here to take care of them whenever they need us," the statement from Laurel Pediatric Associates said.

Barto booking mugshot, Cambria County