FBI arrests Toledo-area nurse on child-pornography charges

TOLEDO, Ohio — A man who works as a nurse at a Toledo-area hospital is in federal custody after authorities accused him of downloading child pornography for more than a decade.

Zachary Balusik, 39, of Toledo, made his first appearance in federal court Thursday on charges of possession and/or access with intent to view child pornography and receipt and/or distribution of child pornography, according to the Cleveland Division of the FBI. Balusik was arrested Wednesday at his residence.

Members of the FBI’s Northwest Ohio Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force searched Balusik’s residence and found two flash drives with pornographic images of children, the FBI says. Some of the images reportedly were of pre-pubescent children.

Investigators questioned Balusik outside his home and he admitted to receiving and viewing child pornography, beginning in 2009 or 2010, according to the FBI. He confirmed he was employed as a nurse at St. Luke’s Hospital in a suburb of Toledo.

The FBI is continuing its investigation. Anyone with information on the case can call the FBI Toledo office at 419-243-6122.