A former psychotherapist who worked with children and adolescents was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for allegedly possessing videos and images of child sexual abuse. 

Law enforcement reviewed the digital devices of Victor Renato Blythe, 61, and found over 300 videos and 23,000 still images depicting the sexual abuse of children, including infants and toddlers.  

Blythe was employed as a psychotherapist in the Psychiatry Department at Children’s National Medical Center. According to court documents, Blythe began collecting child abuse material in 2000, and he attempted to exploit children. He traded the material with multiple people. 

“Victor Blythe spent years hiding behind his credentials as a psychotherapist to gain the trust of vulnerable children, all while secretly collecting and trading the most exploitative images imaginable. He didn't just collect thousands of images of children being sexually abused; he encouraged others to exploit children," U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro said in a statement. 

In his communication with others, Blythe detailed his interest in children and advised others how to groom them. One individual told Blythe that he had been video chatting with a 14-year-old boy who appeared uncomfortable with the person's advances. Blythe advised him to keep chatting with the boy, and he would get comfortable again. 

Blythe was found guilty in May of distributing and possessing child pornography. In addition to the prison sentence, Blythe will serve a lifetime of supervised release, have to register as a sex offender, and pay $71,000 in restitution.