Ex-Ill. doc accused of raping teen

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. -- Marshall County authorities want to find out if a pediatrician who is accused of raping a teenage patient had prior problems in Illinois, Connecticut and Tennessee, where he previously worked.

Dr. Michael Roy Sharpe, 63, remained held on $1 million bond in the Marshall County Jail Friday, charged with three counts of second-degree rape, second-degree sodomy and possession of child pornography.

Marshall County Sheriff's Department spokesman Heath Thomas said the victim is a 15-year-old girl who was a patient at Sharpe's Child Life Pediatrics practice in Albertville. He said the alleged rapes occurred on three occasions beginning when the girl was 14.

Authorities have not said where the alleged acts occurred.

Sharpe was arrested Wednesday night after meeting with investigators and was arraigned Thursday morning before Marshall County District Judge Liles Burke.

Thomas said Sharpe has practiced medicine in at least three other states -- Illinois, Connecticut and Tennessee -- and has been in the Albertville area less than five years. He said investigators are contacting authorities in other states but no prior charges against Sharpe have been uncovered so far.

According to the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners, Sharpe attended the University of Alabama School of Medicine and received his license to practice medicine, with a primary specialty in pediatrics, in February 1974.

The Huntsville Times reported that Price's neighbors said he lived alone but visited his wife, who lives in Tennessee, almost every weekend.

Thomas said investigators are urging anyone who may have a complaint of alleged abuse against Sharpe to call the Marshall County Sheriff's Department at 256-582-2034.

"We want to put this to rest as quickly as we can," he said.