Pediatric Oncologist Pleads Guilty To Accessing Child Porn

COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Christopher E. Pelloski, MD, 39, of Upper Arlington, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court today to one count of accessing child pornography.

Carter M. Stewart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott, Upper Arlington Police Chief Brian Quinn and members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announced the plea entered today before U.S. District Judge Algenon L. Marbley.

According to court documents, investigators patrolling the internet between March and July 2013 identified a computer belonging to Pelloski using a peer-to-peer file-sharing program and possibly possessing child pornography. The investigators executed a search warrant at Pelloski’s home on July 16, 2013 and seized numerous computers and digital media. A forensic preview of one of the computers revealed evidence of approximately 85 images of child pornography.

The crime is punishable by up to ten years in prison. Judge Marbley will set a date for sentencing.

Pelloski was a radiation oncologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, where he also held the title of Director of the Pediatric Radiation Oncology Program.

The Franklin County ICAC Task Force is a multi-agency effort dedicated to the fight against computer facilitated crimes against children. Since the task force began in 2009, over 400 arrests have been made and dozens of child victims of sex abuse and exploitation have been identified and rescued.

The following agencies are members:

Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Upper Arlington Police Department
Grove City Police Department
Columbus Police Department
Grandview Heights Police Department
Whitehall Police Department
Hilliard Police Department
Westerville Police Department
Homeland Security Investigations
U.S. Secret Service
Ohio ICAC
Franklin County Prosecutor's Office

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorney's Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children as well as to identify and rescue victims.

U.S. Attorney Stewart commended the investigation by the ICAC Task Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Hill, who is prosecuting the case.