Boston Children's Hospital Anesthesiologist Arrested for Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography

BOSTON – A pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital has been arrested and charged in federal court in Boston with possessing and distributing child sexual abuse material.

Christopher Sheerer, 35, of Boston, has been charged with one count of distribution of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography. Sheerer made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston today and was detained pending a hearing on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.

According to the charging documents, Sheerer is currently a fellow in pediatric cardiac anesthesiology at Boston Children’s Hospital and was previously a fellow in pediatric anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. A federal investigation began in Baltimore into a member of a group on an encrypted messaging app that required users to upload nude imagery of children known to them. According to court documents, Sheerer was later identified as that user. Sheerer allegedly uploaded imagery of a child known to him to gain admission to that group. 

Following a search last night at Sheerer’s residence in Boston, multiple chats were discovered on Sheerer’s phone, several of which allegedly contained pictures and videos appearing to be child pornography involving children as young as infants. A number of devices, including his phone, a tablet, and computers, were seized and are pending forensic analysis. 

Members of the public who have questions, concerns or information regarding this case should call 617-748-3274.

The charge of distribution of child pornography provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 20 years in prison, a mandatory minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of child pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge, Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Districts of Maryland and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; Homeland Security Investigations in Baltimore and Harrisburg; and the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne Paruti and Jessica Soto of the Major Crimes Unit are prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.