ATLANTA — Federal investigators in Atlanta are asking parents to step forward with information after a pediatric dentist was arrested on child pornography charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Atlanta announced, on Monday, the arrest of Dr. Paul B. Kim, 30, last month.
Special agents executed search warrants at his home in Sandy Springs on December 19, where they said they found thousands of photos and videos of child porn that agents said he had bought online and downloaded. Kim was arrested and is now accused of possessing child pornography.
A federal judge granted the pediatric dentist a $100,000 bond. Kim has also been put on monitored home incarceration with no internet access and is prohibited from having access to children, authorities said.
11Alive is working to reach Kim and his attorney; no one answered Kim's door Tuesday evening, and Kim's attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
Kim worked at Dentistry for Children at its offices in Austell, Dunwoody, and Cumming.
A spokesperson for Dentistry for Children told 11Alive that Kim worked there for more than a year, leaving in November 2023. The spokesperson said Kim had cleared a thorough background check, and that the company had only this week found out about Kim's "alleged abhorrent behavior." The spokesperson said the company is cooperating with investigators and that there is no indication that Kim harmed any patients.
The FBI said it has notified the licensing board, and investigators continue to look into Kim and others.
FBI Atlanta is concerned with his proximity to children and is now asking if anyone has any relevant information about Kim to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or to report tips at tips.fbi.gov.
Here is the full statement from Dentistry for Children:
- We recently learned about the alleged abhorrent behavior involving an Atlanta dentist, Dr. Paul Kim, who worked at Dentistry for Children from August 2022 through November 16, 2023.
- Dentistry for Children is fully cooperating with authorities. Importantly, we are not aware of any allegations involving any of the practice’s patients, or complaints regarding Dr. Kim or his interactions with patients, staff, or visitors to the practice.
- At Dentistry for Children, patient safety is everyone’s top priority, and the practice adheres to robust policies and procedures to ensure the protection of its patients. These measures include:
- Prior to being hired, a thorough background check is performed on all staff members and dentists, which includes a review of any local, state, or federal criminal history
- These reviews also include ensuring that dentists are actively licensed by the Georgia Board of Dentistry – which maintains their own robust background reviews – to practice in the state.
- With respect to Dr. Kim, none of these reviews indicated any concerns, and the first we were alerted to any potential issues involving him was when the news of his arrest broke this week
- Finally, our offices follow safety protocols that prohibit 1 on 1 interactions between patients and any member of the practice office team, including dentists, and we have no indication to believe that Dr. Kim failed to maintain those procedures during his tenure at the practice.
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