Former Norwell pediatrician indicted on 9 counts of child rape
NORWELL ‒ Former Norwell pediatrician Richard Kauff, 68, has been indicted on charges that he sexually assaulted 15 patients in his care at South Shore Medical Center, according to a Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz's office.
A Plymouth County grand jury indicted Kauff on nine counts of rape of child with force and eight counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.
The indictment transfers the case from Plymouth District Court to Plymouth Superior Court, where more serious crimes are prosecuted and defendants can face longer sentences if convicted. Kauff is awaiting an arraignment date for superior court.
More than 36 people have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse against Kauff. After a grand jury investigation, prosecutors determined that 15 of those cases could be successfully prosecuted due to statute of limitations and other legal issues, says a written statement from the DA's office.
At a previous hearing in Hingham District Court, Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Kusmin said Kauff would spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted.
Kauff was arraigned in Hingham District Court in November, when he was released on $50,000 bail on the condition that he stay away from his accusers and the South Shore Medical Center facilities in Norwell and Kingston. He also surrendered his passport and was ordered to stay away from anyone under 16, including family members. He has given up his medical license.
Kauff, who worked as a pediatrician since 1983, saw patients in both Kingston and Norwell offices of South Shore Medical until his retirement in 2022.
On Oct. 4, 2023, a former patient of Kauff posted anonymously to a local Facebook page that she was sexually assaulted during regular annual checkups.
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Another woman replied, saying she had similar experiences. In the ensuing exchange of messages, the women discovered they had the same pediatrician, Dr. Kauff, at South Shore Medical Center, according to a Norwell Police report.
The women met with Norwell police detectives separately, and their accounts share a number of similarities, the police report says, including that Kauff digitally penetrated them on the examination table, sometimes with a parent in the room with them.
After Norwell police filed charges against Kauff last October, more than three dozen individuals reported similar experiences with Kauff, which prompted an "extensive grand jury investigation," the press release says.
The investigation yielded 17 indictments for alleged crimes against 15 different accusers over 23 years.
Assistant District Attorneys Shana Buckingham and Kusmin are prosecuting the case. Kauff is being defended by attorney Kelli Lea Porges.
Peter Blandino covers Quincy for The Patriot Ledger. Contact him at pblandino@patriotledger.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Former Norwell pediatrician Richard Kauff indicted on child rape charges
