Former Boston Children’s pediatric anesthesiology fellow Christopher Sheerer sentenced to 22 years for child sexual abuse images

Federal judge orders lengthy prison term, supervised release, and restitution

A former pediatric cardiac anesthesiology fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital has been sentenced in federal court to 22 years in prison for offenses involving child sexual abuse material, including possession, distribution, and sexual exploitation of children. The sentence also includes five years of supervised release after imprisonment.

The defendant, Christopher Sheerer, 37, of Boston, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to three federal counts: distribution of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and sexual exploitation of children. He had been arrested in July 2024 and remained in federal custody while the case proceeded.

How investigators identified the account and what prosecutors said was found

Investigators tied Sheerer to an account on an encrypted chat application as part of an inquiry that began in May 2024. Authorities said the account belonged to a group described as a place for “dads, uncles, and babysitters” to chat, share live material, and arrange meetups. Prosecutors said prospective members were required to upload nude imagery of a child under 13 next to a handwritten sign bearing the group’s name as a purported “verification” step.

Authorities said Sheerer uploaded imagery of a child known to him to gain access to the group. Investigators later executed a search at his Boston residence around the time of his July 2024 arrest, seizing devices including a phone, a tablet, and computers. Prosecutors said multiple chats on the phone contained images and videos depicting child sexual abuse material, including content involving very young children. A subsequent forensic review, prosecutors said, found Sheerer participated in dozens of chats that included exchanges of such material, and also located pornographic images of a child known to him that appeared to have been created in 2023.

Restitution and next court date

In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Sheerer to pay $65,722 in restitution. Prosecutors said an additional restitution amount will be addressed at a hearing scheduled for March 26, 2026.

Key timeline

• May 2024: Investigation began into an encrypted-chat user linked to a child-exploitation group.
• July 19, 2024: Sheerer arrested and charged in federal court in Boston; devices seized during a search.
• September 11, 2025: Sheerer pleaded guilty to distribution, possession, and sexual exploitation counts.
• January 29, 2026: Sentenced to 22 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release; restitution ordered.
• March 26, 2026: Scheduled restitution hearing for an additional amount.

Sentencing in federal child-exploitation cases is guided by statutory minimums and maximums and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, with final penalties determined by the presiding judge based on the record of the case.