U-M medical resident charged with possessing child pornography

By Kellie Woodhouse Higher education reporter

Posted on Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 10:10 p.m.

A medical resident at the University of Michigan Health System was charged Saturday with four counts of possessing child pornography.

Stephen Jenson, 36, of Ann Arbor, is in his fourth year of residency at U-M and is specializing in medicine and pediatrics, according to an email sent by John M. Carethers, chair of the medical school’s department of internal medicine, to U-M medical school faculty and residents informing them of the charges.

He has been suspended from UMHS.

A U-M statement included in the email and published in the University Record asserts that “at this point, there is no indication of illegal or inappropriate behavior with patients" and that the school is launching an internal review and cooperating with police investigators.

U-M says it is "taking all appropriate measures in view of the serious allegations."

The statement does not say if the school knew about an investigation into Jenson's alleged criminal activity before charges were filed. Jenson's suspension means he cannot see patients, access medical records or enter any U-M facility.

According to U-M, Jenson was released from the Washtenaw County Jail on a personal recognizance bond of $10,000 and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 28.