Former Ohio Doctor Arrested for Child Pornography

A former doctor from a children’s hospital in Ohio has been arrested for possessing child pornography, as stated in a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

Howard M. Saar, aged 73, previously worked as a geneticist and specialist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. According to the release, detectives from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office received tips regarding suspicious activity related to Saar’s IP address and subsequently launched an investigation.

An FBI examination of Saar’s devices reportedly uncovered over 153,000 images, along with 470 items classified as child sex abuse material. The lawyer’s office indicated that some of the media involved young children, including newborns. The case has drawn particular attention from the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force.

Following Saar’s arrest, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffy praised the efforts of the electronics and computer research unit involved in the investigation. She urged anyone who may have been a victim to come forward, emphasizing the commitment to locating dangerous individuals and delivering justice for victims’ families.

The state medical board has noted that Saar’s medical licenses remain active, though Cincinnati Children’s Hospital confirmed he is no longer employed there. The hospital expressed strong disapproval of child exploitation and confirmed their cooperation with law enforcement.

Investigators reported that there was no evidence linking any child pornography to patients or individuals associated with the hospital.

In court documents obtained, when questioned about possessing child sexual abuse material, Saar reportedly stated, “I don’t want it,” suggesting that he wasn’t genuinely interested despite having accessed the material.

Each charge carries a potential federal prison sentence of up to 20 years.