UVM ER Doctor Indicted for Production of Child Pornography

The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that a federal grand jury returned an indictment on June 18, 2020, which charged Eike Blohm, 38, of South Burlington, Vermont, with one count of production of child pornography.  The indictment also includes notice that, in the event that Blohm is convicted of production of child pornography as charged in the indictment, the government intends to seek forfeiture of real and personal property owned by Blohm.  Blohm made his initial appearance in federal court on May 22, 2020.  At that hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered Blohm detained pending trial.  The date on which Blohm will be arraigned on the indictment has not been set.  

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 various states of undress in at least two bathrooms at UVM MC.  Approximately 21 videos showed a minor child bathing nude at another location, and a number of those videos showed the minor’s genitalia.  The child’s identity and the location where the child was filmed are known to law enforcement.  In addition, investigators searched Blohm’s iPad pursuant to a search warrant.  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 .

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.