UVM ER Doctor Charged with Production and Possession of Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Eike Blohm, 38, of South Burlington, Vermont, was charged by criminal complaint in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, with one count of production of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.  Blohm made his initial appearance to answer the complaint in federal court on May 22, 2020.  At the hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered Blohm detained pending trial.  Blohm is next scheduled to appear in Federal court on June 1, 2020.

According to court records and proceedings, an employee at the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVM MC) discovered a camera hidden in a unisex employee bathroom in the Emergency Department.  Investigators with the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations (CUSI) recovered the camera and discovered approximately 1,300 videos on the camera.  Approximately 900 videos depicted hospital employees in at least two bathrooms at UVM MC.  Approximately 21 videos showed a minor child bathing nude at a location associated with Blohm.  The child’s identity is known to law enforcement, and a number of those videos showed the minor’s genitalia.  In addition, investigators searched, pursuant to a search warrant, Blohm’s iPad.  Investigators found approximately 132 images of child pornography that did not involve the known minor.

U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan emphasized that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.  If convicted, Blohm’s sentence will be determined by the advisory United States Sentencing Guidelines and the impact, if any, of any mandatory minimum prison terms applicable to any count of conviction.

U.S. Attorney Nolan commended the efforts of the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations.

Barbara A. Masterson, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont, and James E. Burke IV, Trial Attorney with the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, are handling the prosecution of Blohm.  Lisa B. Shelkrot of Langrock Sperry & Wool, LLP, represents Blohm.

U.S. Attorney Nolan noted that this prosecution is part of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the U.S. Attorney's Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.