Former Children’s Hospital Doctor Charged with Having Child Pornography

Former Ohio Doctor Charged with Child Pornography

A former doctor from a children’s hospital in Ohio has been arrested for possessing child pornography, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio. Howard M. Saar, who is 73 years old, previously worked as a geneticist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Investigators from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office received alerts concerning child pornography linked to Saar’s IP address, leading to further investigations. The FBI subsequently examined Saar’s devices and reportedly found over 153,000 images, as well as 470 items of child sexual abuse material. Some of these materials reportedly involved very young children, including infants. The investigation is being conducted in collaboration with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force.

Following the arrest, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffy praised the efforts of the local electronics and computer investigation unit, stating that they worked diligently on the case. She also encouraged potential victims to come forward, emphasizing the commitment to find and prosecute dangerous individuals.

As of now, Saar’s medical licenses remain active, although Cincinnati Children’s Hospital confirmed he no longer works there. The hospital expressed a strong condemnation of child exploitation and stated it is fully cooperating with law enforcement.

Investigators have yet to find any evidence linking Saar’s materials to patients or children affiliated with the hospital. In a statement to investigators, when asked if he possessed any child sexual abuse material, Saar reportedly replied, “I don’t want it,” suggesting a complex view of his involvement.