Psychologist Gets 7 Years for Child Porn

Dr. Joseph Belanger, 61, of Jamestown, ND, a former mental hospital psychologist who said he became interested in child pornography while treating sex offenders was sentenced to seven years in prison. He plead guilty in court to two charges of receiving materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors. When asked by U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson if the allegations against him were true, he looked up at the judge and in a quiet deep voice replied: “Yes, Your Honor”. With those three words Belanger became a convicted child sex offender. Read the full story here.

His sentencing originally scheduled for Dec. 11, 2008 had been delayed until Jan. 23, 2009. He had faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum term of five years. In sentencing Belanger to 7 years behind bars, Judge Ralph Erickson said he should have taken advantage of his experience and background to seek treatment for himself.

"He, of all people, should have known there was help available," Erickson said.

Dr. Belanger, a former psychologist at North Dakota State Hospital, worked for 20 years examining sex offenders and testifying in court as an expert witness in hundreds of cases. He was targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in an investigation code named Operation Flicker. He was accused of subscribing to and paying for downloading child pornography from various websites.

Defense attorney Steven Light said a psychologist's report showed his client was a good candidate for rehabilitation. Belanger cooperated with authorities and had no previous criminal history. "He's not a hands-on offender," Light said.

During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl read a victim impact statement from a 17-year-old girl who had been sexually molested by her father when she was 10 or 11. Images of the girl were posted on porn sites accessed by Belanger.

Victims in such cases "are traumatized in a way that never really ends," Judge Ralph Erickson said.

Psychologist Pleads Guilty to Child Porn

Dr. Joseph Belanger, 61, of Jamestown, ND plead guilty in court to two charges of receiving materials involving the sexual exploitation of minors. When asked by U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson if the allegations against him were true, he looked up at the judge and in a quiet deep voice replied: "Yes, Your Honor". With those three words Belanger became a convicted child sex offender. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 11.

Dr. Belanger is a former North Dakota State Hospital psychologist who had spent the past 20 years examining sex offenders and testified in court on whether the convicted sex offenders were dangerous and should be confined indefinitely for treatment. He was an expert witness in hundreds of cases. His arrest and conviction has led to reviews of cases in Iowa where he appeared as a witness. Officials have said North Dakota cases are unlikely to be affected because of a state law that required two expert witnesses in cases of sexually dangerous individuals.

Dr. Belanger's downfall began in 2006 when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) started an investigation, "Operation Flicker", to find subscribers of child pornography Web sites that charge for subscriptions.

Belanger was identified through e-mail, telephone, computer and address records as a customer who purchased access to a “Desired Angels” site on Dec. 3, 2006, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl.

The purchase gave the Jamestown man access to 9,076 images and 119 videos of child pornography, she said.

Authorities obtained a search warrant and seized two laptops, a computer, five CDs and six Zip disks, according to the indictment. Child pornography was found on each of the items seized, including more than 200 videos, Klemetsrud Puhl said.

Dr. Bekanger was put on administrative leave and barred from the hospital grounds after he told his supervisor that Homeland Security officials had seized his home computer in search of child pornography.

Shortly afterwards, Dr. Belanger resigned from the hospital. In his resignation letter to the State Board of Psychologist Examiners, Belanger wrote that he suffered "horrific abuse" as a child and has been suicidal at times. He also detailed what he called his "compulsive viewing of pornography". He said he has been "frightened of the world and of women so (he) mostly used pornography as an outlet." He also stated in the letter that he tried to get his life back, aided by medication, and that he plans to get back into therapy. "I believe recovery is possible," he wrote.

Steven Light, Belanger's attorney, said afterward that "it's further evidence that this type of illness can strike anyone."

"Given the seriousness of his confession to us, we had to act immediately," said Alex Schweitzer, superintendent of the State Hospital in Jamestown. Belanger's resignation was accepted.