Doc admits to sexting 'teen' girl

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A pediatrician accused of sending lewd text messages to someone he believed was a high school cheerleader has admitted his guilt.

Dr. Nick Doyle appeared before the medical board ready to fall on his proverbial sword - almost. He admitted that he sent lewd text messages to someone he believed was a minor. He admitted he sent some of these lewd messages from a hospital computer. And he admitted that he continued to do so, even after supervisors told him to stop. But he and the deputy attorney general could not agree on a punishment.

Deputy Attorney General Michael Minglin presented documents that outlined the findings of facts, then asked the medical board to decide on appropriate disciplinary action without having a formal hearing.

"It sounds like you want us to do a disciplinary action without knowing what the facts are," one of the board members said.

But Doyle's lawyer, Barclay Wong, argued that allowing the board to decide punishment without a hearing was more efficient.

"He's admitted. He's taken responsibility for it. We're going to provide evidence regarding a potential discipline, and we're asking the board to accept the stipulations as a means of making this a more efficient hearing," said Wong.

In those stipulations of facts, Doyle admits that he "engaged in inappropriate text and email communications with an individual whom he believed to be a minor female."

But Doyle's admission was not enough. Board members wanted to see the text messages before deciding on a punishment. All agreed it was unreasonable to ask the board members to decide on a punishment without hearing the evidence.

In the end, Minglin asked for a continuance to prepare the hearing in January. The board extended the suspension of Doyle's license until that hearing.