Doctor sentenced for child porn

A federal judge sentenced a former Olympia gynecologist to 78 months in prison Tuesday for possessing what a prosecutor called a massive collection of child pornography.

Dr. George E. Kabacy, 68, accumulated what is believed to be the largest such collection discovered to date in the federal judicial district serving Western Washington, Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Lombardi said.

His voice breaking, Kabacy apologized to his family and his profession for the humiliation he caused them and took responsibility for his actions in a short statement to U.S. District Court Judge Franklin Burgess.

Kabacy's wife, Laura, attended the sentencing.

Kabacy faced a maximum of 10 years in prison. In sentencing Kabacy to six-and-a-half years, Burgess considered his participation in a psychosexual assessment, his history of "good works" in his profession and community, and his medical condition.

Early Alzheimer's

Kabacy has been diagnosed with the early onset of Alzheimer's, a condition that might have contributed to his behavior, said Neil Fox, his defense attorney.

Fox had requested a five-year sentence because of his deteriorating health, adding Kabacy could be a "shell" of himself within five to seven years.

"At some point, there's really diminishing returns. ... The purpose of punishment will be lost on him," Fox said.

In arguing for the maximum, Lombardi countered that Kabacy's medical condition warranted it because he will be less able to control his impulses as his condition deteriorates.

Lombardi noted court records described the "sheer glee" Kabacy expressed in online chats with others while trading images and videos of child pornography. Lombardi added federal agents learned after Kabacy's guilty plea that he had taken pornographic pictures of a young child entrusted in his care.

Kabacy admitted to prosecutors he molested two underage boys in college.

He also acknowledged he had communicated with adults shortly before his arrest to travel to other states and engage in sexual activity with their minor children, court records say. Kabacy denied any of those efforts came to fruition.

"He made child pornography. He distributed child pornography. He accumulated a tremendous collection, and it shows he's a danger to reoffend and a danger to the community," Lombardi said.

A significant number of the 197,320 digital photographs federal agents recovered depict the sexual abuse of young children and infants, and some involve bestiality, sado-masochism and bondage, court records say. Agents also found more than 1,000 video files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The images and video files were stored on a computer and more than 30 compact discs. Under the plea agreement, Kabacy admitted knowingly possessing more than 8,000 images.

Kabacy moved to Washington at least 11 years ago and worked until his arrest at Sound Choice Health Center in Olympia. He was arrested at his Lacey home in December 2006.

The investigation of Kabacy began when a Georgia man, Jimmy Wilson, told federal agents he had received a computer from Kabacy on the promise that Wilson would send pornographic pictures of his grandchildren to Kabacy. Agents obtained access to Wilson's e-mail and found Kabacy had been sending him links to Web sites containing child pornography.

Kabacy was released on bond shortly after his arrest, but imprisoned in January when it was discovered a family member living in his home owned a computer. Kabacy was barred from having a computer in his home as a condition of his release.

Burgess ordered Kabacy to pay a $10,000 fine, and he will be required to complete 10 years of supervision and treatment when released from prison. The state Medical Quality Assurance Commission revoked Kabacy's license to practice medicine in February.

In arguing for a reduction in sentence, Kabacy's defense pointed to the doctor's public service history during turbulent times as a practitioner at Planned Parenthood of the Columbia-Willamette in Oregon.

In January 1995, at the height of violence against abortion providers, some anti-abortionists unveiled their "Deadly Dozen" poster, identifying doctors who performed abortions. Among those listed — with a home address — was Kabacy.