Owner Of “A Child’s Point Of View” Psychotherapy Practice Charged With Possession Of Child Pornography

OAKLAND - A federal grand jury in Oakland indicted psychologist Kenneth Breslin on December 15, 2016, with possession of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Ryan L. Spradlin. 

For many years, Breslin 68, of Lafayette, Calif., was the Director and Owner of “A Child’s Point of View,” an Orinda-based office that provided adolescent, adult, and family psychotherapy services.  Breslin is currently prohibited from practicing psychology pursuant to a Contra Costa Superior Court order issued on November 28, 2016.  Breslin was arrested at his residence on December 18, 2016, and made his initial appearance in federal court in San Francisco this morning.  According to the indictment, Breslin is alleged to have knowingly possessed, and accessed with intent to view, child pornography.  He was charged with one count of possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(B).

Breslin is currently being held in the custody of the United States Marshals Service.  His next scheduled appearance is at 9:30 a.m. on December 21, 2016, for a detention hearing before the Honorable Jacqueline Scott Corley, U.S. Magistrate Judge.      

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $250,000, plus restitution.  However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Investigators are asking anyone who has further information about the defendant or his activities that may be relevant to this case to call Homeland Security Investigations’ tip line at (866) 347-2423. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christina McCall and Erin Cornell are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Vanessa Quant, Trina Khadoo, and Michelle Alter Eck.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by HSI, the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children's Task Force, and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.