Crime

Former Boston Children’s Hospital cardiac anesthesiologist back in court on child pornography charges

Accused of possessing and distributing child pornography, Christopher Sheerer was back in court Tuesday for a hearing.

By Abby Patkin

July 23, 2024

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A former Boston Children’s Hospital pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist was back in federal court Tuesday to determine whether he should remain in custody while facing child pornography charges.

Per clerk’s notes from the detention hearing, federal prosecutors sought to keep Christopher Sheerer detained, arguing that he is a flight risk and poses a danger to the community. The court took the matter under advisement. 

Sheerer, a 35-year-old Boston resident, is charged with one count each of possessing and distributing child pornography. He made an initial appearance in court Friday and was detained pending Tuesday’s hearing. A public defender appointed to represent Sheerer declined to comment on the case. 

Sheerer began his fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital earlier this month and previously worked at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore, according to court documents. 

Back in May, authorities launched an investigation into a member of an online group that required users to upload nude images of children via an encrypted messaging app, per court documents. Investigators allegedly identified Sheerer as the user in question; he’s accused of uploading an image of a child he knew in order to gain access to the group. 

According to court documents, Sheerer and his ex-wife share a young daughter. 

Authorities searched Sheerer’s home in Boston Thursday night and allegedly found multiple chat logs on his phone that contained child pornography depicting children as young as infants. In one chat on July 1, Sheerer reportedly sent three pictures and 15 videos, “all of which appear to be child pornography,” per court documents. 

Sheerer allegedly told authorities he had been in Boston for about three weeks and denied having seen or downloaded child pornography from the internet. 

“When confronted with the assertion that there was child pornography on his phone, he told agents that he did not know how it got there,” investigators noted in an affidavit. 

If convicted of distributing child pornography, Sheerer could spend between five to 20 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a statement. The charge of possessing child pornography, meanwhile, carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Sheerer also faces up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 on both counts. 

In a statement, Boston Children’s Hospital said it immediately terminated Sheerer’s employment upon learning of his arrest Friday. 

“Our patients’ and their families’ safety and well-being remain our utmost priority,” the hospital said.