Pediatrician faces child porn charges
Thousands of images found on computer
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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.
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"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.
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the story on link provided on this thread evidentally has been revised with some of the info deleted, hmmm.