Child psychiatrist used AI to create imagery and recorded patients showering
A child psychiatrist in North Carolina who used AI to digitally alter clothing on minors and recorded patients undressing and showering has been sentenced to 40 years in prison, according to local authorities.
David Tatum, 41, was sentenced after he was convicted for once count of production of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.
“As a child psychiatrist, Tatum knew the damaging, long-lasting impact sexual exploitation has on the wellbeing of victimized children. Regardless, he engaged in the depraved practice of using secret recordings of his victims to create illicit images and videos of them,” U.S. Attorney King said in a November 8 press release.
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“Tatum also misused artificial intelligence in the worst possible way: to victimize children. Today’s 40-year sentence underscores our efforts to do all we can to bring justice to child victims. As the field of artificial intelligence advances, my office is committed to prosecuting predators who seek to exploit this technology to inflict harm on children.”
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Evidence presented at the trial for the disgraced psychiatrist detailed the full extent of the possessed images and videos of child pornography at his disposal between 2016 to 2021, according to filed court documents. Tatum secretly recorded a minor while the minor was undressing and showring in July 2016, according to evidence presented at the trial. He was found to have produced the video of the minor and possessed it, along with other images and videos of child pornography.
Evidence presented at the trial for the disgraced psychiatrist detailed the full extent of the possessed images and videos of child pornography at his disposal between 2016 to 2021 (Google Street View)Trial evidence also showed that Tatum made "similar surreptitious recordings of others, including of his patient during an outpatient visit who had just turned 18 years old five days before the recording."
It was also determined that Tatum used AI to "digitally alter clothed images of minors making them sexually explicit," going as far as to used a web-based artificial intelligence application to alter images of clothed minors into child pornography. AI was used by the former professional on two images - one from a school dance and another from the first day of school.
Tatum - who was convicted on May 4 - is currently in federal custody. If he lives long enough to serve his full sentence, he will then have to spend thirty years on supervised release for sexual exploitation of a minor, and for using artificial intelligence (AI) to create child pornography images of minors.
Tatum was busted as part of an FBI investigation (Getty Images/iStockphoto)Tatum was also ordered to pay restitution in an amount to be determined within ninety days, a $100 special assessment per count of conviction, and a special assessment totaling $99,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act (AVAA).
Following his release from prison, he will have to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board in any state or jurisdiction where he lives or works.
“It is horrific to believe anyone would secretly record children undressing and showering for their own sexual gratification. And when the evidence proves that person is a doctor entrusted to help children through difficult mental health situations, it is inconceivable,” said FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge DeWitt. “The FBI will never stop working to put predators like Tatum behind bars for a very long time.”
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