Longtime KNBC medical correspondent Dr. Bruce Hensel was arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of asking a 9-year-old girl to send him sexually suggestive pictures, authorities said.

Hensel, 71, was taken into custody about 10:15 a.m. by investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department's Juvenile Division, a spokesperson for the agency said.

He was the medical correspondent for KNBC for nearly three decades and had prior stints at NBC in New York and KCOP in Los Angeles.

Hensel allegedly requested the images from the daughter of an acquaintance through a messaging app on or about Aug. 4, said Deputy District Attorney Angela Brunson of the DA's Cyber Crimes Division.

Hensel's attorney, Steve Sitkoff, released the following statement: "Dr. Hensel is completely innocent of the charge. We are cooperating with the authorities and look forward to a speedy and complete exoneration."

If convicted as charged, Hensel faces a possible maximum sentence of 18 months in state prison, prosecutors said.

He was released later in the day after posting $5,000 bail.

H/T KABC