‘Dr. Steve’ pleads guilty in Gosnell abortion case

Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams banked another guilty plea Thursday in the mounting case against Dr. Kermit Gosnell and his former West Philadelphia abortion clinic.

Clinic worker Steven Massof pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree murder, conspiracy and participating in a corrupt operation. District attorneys call his victims “Baby F” and “Baby G.”

 

Earlier this year, Massof told the grand jury he was assisting with an abortion when Baby F’s leg “jerked and moved.” Massof testified that Gosnell then severed the infant’s spine.

According to the grand jury report, Massof also witnessed “Baby G” take a “breath.”

Massof was called “Dr. Steve.” Patients likely thought they were being cared for by a physician when they visited the Women’s Medical Society clinic, but the 49-year-old medical school graduate was never licensed in Pennsylvania.

Judge Benjamin Lerner told Massof that the gathered evidence–if it were presented at trial–would likely convince a jury of his guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Massof faces a maximum sentence of 160 years in prison and a $200,000 fine.

There was no promise of leniency in the plea deal, but Lerner said the attorneys have discussed where the Pittsburgh resident might serve his jail time.