Children’s therapist accused of distributing 'videos showing infants being restrained and raped'

MELVILLE, N.Y. (TCN) -- A 36-year-old licensed social worker and children’s therapist stands accused of distributing "heinous and disturbing" child pornography, including videos of babies being restrained and sexually abused.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, between June and October, Renee Hoberman allegedly uploaded child abuse material onto social media messaging apps. Prosecutors said several videos depicted babies "being physically restrained and raped by an adult male as the infants cried and frantically screamed for the duration of the videos."

Around Oct. 16, Hoberman allegedly posed as a man in online chat rooms and said he would "have anal sex with the children and would punish them by getting naked, stripping the children naked, and spanking them while the other children watched." Prosecutors said Hoberman also asked another user to come to "his" family’s home to "spank the children."

In online chat rooms, Hoberman allegedly spoke about sexually abusing "his" kids and their friends and claimed the minors depicted in the material were the user’s own children.

On Oct. 23, authorities arrested Hoberman on charges of distribution of child pornography. According to WABC-TV, Hoberman was ordered to remain held without bail.

Prosecutors said Hoberman worked as a therapist for an organization for children. A spokesperson for her place of work reportedly said she has since been terminated from her job.

Hoberman faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison if convicted.

Special Agent in Charge William Walker for Homeland Security Investigations in New York said, "Renee Hoberman worked in a trusted position as a therapist with children, making the allegations against her for the possession and distribution of incredibly dark and depraved child sexual abuse materials even more disturbing."

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