A former pediatric surgeon at an Albuquerque hospital was sentenced by a federal judge this week to 17½ years in prison after pleading guilty to possession and distribution of sexually explicit photos of children.
Guy Rosenschein, 68, admitted that he possessed more than 19,000 images and 2,000 videos of child pornography on thumb drives and laptop computers found in searches at his home, according to a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court of New Mexico.
Rosenschein also admitted sharing images through his email account showing minors engaged in sexually explicit acts, according to the plea agreement. He pleaded guilty in October to seven counts of distribution, and one count of possession, of sexually graphic images of children, it said.
U.S. District Judge Judith Herrera handed down the sentence Tuesday.
Phone and email messages left for Rosenschein’s attorney were not immediately returned.
A pediatric urologist and surgeon, Rosenschein previously worked in New York, Arkansas and Missouri, according to a statement issued by the office of Alexander Uballez, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico.
“Law enforcement learned of additional allegations in other states that Rosenschein had befriended young male patients before sexually abusing the young boys,” the statement said. Charges are pending in Arkansas in connection with two alleged victims, it said.
In New Mexico, dozens of families have filed at least 29 lawsuits in 2nd Judicial District Court against Rosenschein and Presbyterian Healthcare Services, his employer from 2012 until November 2016. The suits allege a variety of improper behavior by Rosenschein with young patients in his care. Some of the suits also allege botched medical treatments.
“Presbyterian is committed to delivering safe, quality care to our patients every day,” Presbyterian Healthcare Services spokeswoman Melanie Mozes said Friday. “We worked with law enforcement throughout their investigation regarding this individual and will reserve comment on legal proceedings for the appropriate venue.”
Rosenschein first came to the attention of law enforcement in 2016 after tips were submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an Albuquerque user had posted sexual images of children, according to the statement from Uballez’s office.
On Nov. 7, 2016, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies searched Rosenschein’s home and found digital devices containing child pornography, the statement said.
Detectives later learned of a “hidden room” behind a false wall under the stairs in Rosenschein’s home, the statement said. FBI agents obtained a second search warrant and found two safes in the hidden room containing more material.
In all, law enforcement found some 19,000 images and 2,092 videos containing child sexual abuse material, the statement said.
