Chicago pediatrician arrested with child porn, knockout drugs, officials say

KCAL ^ | October 27, 2003 | Mike Robinson, AP

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Thousands of sexually explicit photos of children as young as 8 were discovered on computers belonging to a Chicago pediatrician, federal prosecutors announced Monday.

Dr. H. Marc Watzman, 37, also had drugs commonly used to induce unconsciousness and lack of muscular control as well as Viagra in his car and apartment when he was arrested, federal prosecutors said. He has been held in federal custody since his arrest Saturday after federal agents searched his Chicago apartment.

Watzman is charged with possession of child pornography. A bond hearing was scheduled for Monday afternoon.

He was practicing at a hospital in suburban Naperville until Oct. 8, prosecutors said. Agents said a resume discovered as part of their search indicated he had also worked at hospitals in Peoria, Rockford, Wichita, Kan., Philadelphia and in Maryland.

While not naming the hospitals where Watzman practiced, the affidavit attached to the criminal complaint said agents had Watzman under surveillance at Edward Hospital in Naperville on Oct. 7.

A spokesman at Edward Hospital said he did not have an immediate comment on Watzman's arrest.

Agents said they found a desktop computer in Watzman's apartment with about 40 images of child pornography and more than 200,000 erased images.

They said they also seized a laptop containing 3,000 to 5,000 images of sexually explicit pictures of children.

The laptop also contained software called "Evidence Eliminator,'' used to erase images from computers, prosecutors said.

Agents also said they found DVDs showing nude young girls as well as evidence that Watzman is a paid member of adult fetish Web sites and Web sites that feature child pornography.

Agents said they also discovered a hidden side panel in Watzman's car that contained an array of drugs as well as evidence of thousands of dollars in wire transfers to Guayaquil, Ecuador.

The drugs, some of which were also found in the apartment, were morphine, two compounds used to induce unconsciousness, a substance used to induce temporary muscular paralysis and a sedative used by surgeons.

The agents also found a supply of Viagra, they said.

Customs agents said that on Sept. 30 they opened a package addressed to Watzman from a fictitious postal box in Sweden. It contained two videos with images of naked adults on a beach.

On Oct. 11, agents said they seized a parcel from Germany addressed to Watzman. It contained software used to hide pictures within pictures, hide text within pictures and encrypt computer files.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I'm speechless.

[Temple Drake]

if you need Viagra as well as freaky imagery to get it on, isn't that a sign you should give it up?

[prairiebreeze]

The good doctor is a sick puppy.

Prairie

[AD from SpringBay]

Dr. H. Marc Watzman should be sent to the maker within the week.

[RiflemanSharpe]

Got Rope?

[Dog Gone]

It contained software used to hide pictures within pictures, hide text within pictures and encrypt computer files.

Sophisticated pervert, ain't he?

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Yeah, and importing it from Germany too? Why am I not surprised somehow? This is scary stuff.

[BossLady]

Freak of the Week Alert!!!! :o

[prairiebreeze]

A quick search on the IL Dept. of Professional Regulation website shows no disciplinary actions ever taken in Illinois on this creep. IL license obtained in 1999. And it's Howard Mark etc.

Bet his licensure status may change dramatically soon.

Prairie

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I'm with you there. I can only imagine what thoughts will go through the minds of any parents who have used this guy as a pediatrician for their kids.

[BossLady]

"Agents said they also discovered a hidden side panel in Watzman's car that contained an array of drugs as well as evidence of thousands of dollars in wire transfers to Guayaquil, Ecuador."

Hmmmm......I wonder what else he was buying from Ecuador? Creeeeeeeepyyyy!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Hanging is too good for this guy.

[prairiebreeze]

This guy has worked at 6 hospitals in 10 years, allowing for undergraduate school, med school and internship. Excessive by most standards.

Prairie

[AdA$tra]

The laptop also contained software called "Evidence Eliminator,'' used to erase images from computers, prosecutors said.

Good thing for him he had the "evidence eliminator." Ecuador......hmmm. Any airline records that put him on "vacation" there?

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Makes one wonder just why he left those other places, hmmmmmm? And also what kind of a background check Edward Hospital did on him before hiring him? Or are physicians "above" background checks?

[LittleJoe]

Sophisticated pervert, ain't he?

LOL...Like he needed software to do that!

[wolficatZ]

Pediatrician faces child porn charges

Thousands of images found on computer

By Kevin Roy

October 27, 2003 — Authorities found thousands of images of child pornography and a number of illegal drugs in the home of a Chicago pediatrician.

 ABC7 Video Clip

Investigators say a computer seized from the home of Dr. H. Marc Watzman, 37, contained 3,000 to 5,000 sexually explicit images of children as young as eight-years old. Prosecutors say Watzman also had Viagra and other drugs used to induce unconsciousness in his car and apartment. He is being held without bond pending a second hearing. Prosecutors call Watzman a pediatrician with a long-standing sexual interest in children. So far there is no evidence that Watzman ever harmed children.

Officials raided Watzman's garden apartment in Old Town early Saturday morning. They seized two computers. On his laptop, authorities reportedly found more than 3,000 images of child pornography.

The pediatrician appeared before a judge today. He specialized in anesthesiology and until October 8 had been working the Critical Care Unit of Edward Hospital in Naperville.

According to a federal complaint, agents found drugs hidden in Watzman's kitchen and car, including morphine, and tranquilizers used to induce temporary unconsciousness and muscle paralysis along with a bottle of Viagra. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald says he is a flight risk but stopped short of calling him a risk to children.

"I want to make clear to everyone that Dr. Watzman is not charged with any offense against any children. It is not alleged that he has taken any illegal conduct against any children. He is not charged with that. While he is a doctor it is also not alleged that any of these pictures involved any of his patients. So I think the important message we need to send out is not just what he's charged with but what is not alleged," said Fitzgerald.

Agents also impounded D.V.D.'S found in Watzman's home that required special software and secret passwords to open. They also allege that one of the doctor's computers was equipped with a program called Evidence Eliminator used to erase hundreds of thousands of images stored on computers.

Prosecutors said in court today that there are many more questions than answers so far about Dr. Watzman. Why was he using a post office box under an alias? Why was he making money transfers, hundreds of dollars to Russia, using that alias? So far these questions have not been answered.

In the meantime, the judge has decided to have a second bond hearing on Friday. At that time she wants to hear from the suspect's father, hoping that the father may provide, or may act as a third-party custodian in this case allowing Dr. Watzman to be released in the care of his father.

You can see the ABC7 report by clicking on the video icon at the upper right.  You will need Real Player 8 to view this video. You can get it

 

the story on link provided on this thread evidentally has been revised with some of the info deleted, hmmm.

[vox humana]

Customs agents said that on Sept. 30 they opened a package addressed to Watzman from a fictitious postal box in Sweden. It contained two videos with images of naked adults on a beach.

This guy is a fool. He should have ordered the video from the Clinton Library. Customs doesn't inspect domestic shipments.

[ChemistCat]

Well, parents, you can rest easy. This U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald thinks this guy is no threat to children.