CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Editor's note: This story discusses child sexual abuse. While no acts are discussed in graphic detail, reader's discretion is advised.
A Charlotte child psychiatrist will spend the next four decades in prison after federal prosecutors say he not only secretly recorded children, but also used artificial intelligence to generate child sex abuse material.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced Wednesday that 41-year-old David Tatum was sentenced to 40 years in prison, with 30 years of supervised release. He will also need to register as a sex offender, pay restitution, repay a $100 special assessment per count he was convicted of, and pay for another assessment totaling $99,000 under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act.
He was found guilty in May 2023 of one count of production of child pornography, one count of transportation of child pornography, and one count of possessing 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,” said U.S. Attorney Dena J. King. “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.”
King's office said Tatum had secretly recorded a minor who was undressing and showering sometime in July 2016 and possessed other images and videos that sexually exploited children between then and 2021. Federal prosecutors also said Tatum made other similar recordings of others, including of a patient during an outpatient visit who had just turned 18 years old just five days prior to their own recording.
Trial evidence also showed that Tatum used artificial intelligence to generate sexually explicit images of children. King's office said he used a web-based platform to alter images of clothed minors. Two of the images were from a school dance, for example, while another photo celebrating the first day of school for a child was also involved.
Tatum remains in federal custody and will be processed into prison once one has been designated for him.
“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 Robert M. DeWitt. “The FBI will never stop working to put predators like Tatum behind bars for a very long time.”
The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which works to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project involves state, federal, and local resources to better find and prosecute people who exploit children via the Internet while also identifying and helping victims.
If you or a loved one is facing domestic violence, help is readily available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. Resources for help are available in both North Carolina and South Carolina.