Pediatric doctor pleads guilty for child porn

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

An Ohio doctor who once directed Ohio State University’s pediatric cancer radiation program pleaded guilty Friday to accessing child pornography.

Christopher Pelloski faces up to 10 years in prison at sentencing after his guilty plea to a single count of accessing digital files intending to view child pornography.

A criminal complaint against Pelloski last summer said he acknowledged to investigators that he used his home desktop computer and a laptop belonging to Ohio State University to download child pornography, including videos and photos.

Evidence against Pelloski included two graphic videos and about 85 images of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Pelloski, 39, pleaded guilty to take responsibility for the crime, his lawyer said Friday.

Columbus attorney Bill Meeks said more evidence about Pelloski’s actions will be presented at his sentencing. It has not yet been scheduled.

Federal Judge Algenon Marbley accepted Pelloski’s plea Friday and granted his request to remain free pending sentencing.

Few people had the qualifications that allowed Pelloski to work at the highest levels of his field, Meeks said.

“While he has accepted responsibility for a federal crime, like most things in life there’s a balance sheet and the positives in this guy’s life far outweigh the negatives,” Meeks said.

The state medical board has suspended Pelloski’s license pending the outcome of the criminal case against him. Pelloski must reapply to practice medicine again.