Alabama doctor wanted to be teen patient’s ‘sugar daddy,’ investigators say
Published 10:32 am Friday, October 14, 2022
An Alabama physician has been charged with human trafficking after he allegedly touched a 17-year-old girl patient inappropriately and sent her sexually explicit text messages and ultimately planned to meet her a hotel, but found police awaiting his arrival instead.
Dr. Janaki Earla, 59, of Hoover, Alabama, is accused attempting touching the 17-year-old girl’s breasts with a stethoscope and complimenting her appearance before putting his phone number in her phone. Earla practiced medicine at an office in Trussville.
Later he began texting her sexually suggestive messages and offered her money if she would meet him at a local hotel, Blount County Sheriff’s Office deputies said. The girl told her mother about the behavior and the mother told deputies.
Investigators used the girl’s phone to set up a sting operation by texting him back within investigators posing as the girl.
Deputies said Earla asked if the girl would have sex with him for money and agree to travel with him and be his “sugar baby.”
Investigators said he showed up at the motel with a box of condoms, cash and alcohol.