A psychotherapist who works with children and adolescents and once worked for Children’s National Hospital was arrested this week on federal child pornography charges, according to the U.S. attorney’s office for the District of Columbia.
Victor Renato Blythe, 60, of D.C., was charged with possessing and distributing child pornography to another individual, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said in a statement Tuesday.
Blythe allegedly exchanged text messages with another person about his interest in the sexual abuse of children, shared child pornography with this person and had more of the videos on his electronic devices, according to the federal complaint. An attempt to reach Blythe was unsuccessful.
Blythe is a licensed clinical social worker and previously worked for the psychiatry department at Children’s National Hospital for seven years, the complaint says. A hospital spokeswoman said Blythe has not worked for Children’s National in seven years and declined further comment.
A biography previously published on the website of District Therapy Associates in Northwest Washington said Blythe had 15 years of clinical and therapeutic experience. The page had been taken down as of Wednesday.
Blythe is no longer affiliated with the practice, said clinical director Meredith Gardner.
“District Therapy Associates was deeply disturbed and shocked to learn of the charges brought against Mr. Blythe,” she said in a statement. “We will fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities and are committed to supporting their investigation in every way permitted by law.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, which investigates violations involving the sexual exploitation of children, and D.C. police with the help from the Fairfax County Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Pirro’s office.
