Court-docs: Chicago-area vet accused of distributing child porn, planned to sexually assault unborn child
CHICAGO — A veterinarian and dog show judge based in the Chicago area has been accused of distributing child pornography and detailing plans to sexually assault his unborn child over messages shared online.
According to a criminal complaint released on Monday, Adam Stafford King, an Elburn resident, allegedly used instant messaging platforms, while using the handle @pervchidude, to distribute child pornography. He also allegedly detailed plans to assault a child he was expecting with his husband through a surrogate in California.
According to the complaint, King is a veterinary ophthalmologist, dog breeder and dog show judge who is known to frequently travel to dog shows around the country.
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Authorities say the FBI identified a suspect in New York City while investigating the online sexual exploitation of minors in October of 2023. After obtaining a warrant to search the suspect’s electronic devices, agents found messages between him and an individual in the Chicago area who was using the handle @pervchidude.
FBI agents later got permission from the New York suspect to use his account to allow undercover agents to continue conversations with King.
According to the complaint, while posing as the New York suspect, agents then engaged in several text conversations where King allegedly sent images and videos depicting child pornography, claimed that he had a large digital cache of child pornography, and said that he had sexually abused minors in the past.
The complaint did not provide details on if the statements had been investigated and King is not facing charges of sexual abuse.
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In messages shared with the New York suspect, King claimed to prefer children in the “single digits,” the complaint alleged.
King allegedly also told the New York suspect that he and his husband were expecting a child and went on to say that he “plans to sexually assault the child after it is born.” The complaint alleged that in the same text conversation, King also sent a photograph of a baby’s outfit.
In early March, the FBI executed a search warrant at King’s home in Elburn.
According to the complaint, despite multiple announcements by the FBI agents conducting the search, King was located by agents in the shower with his cell phone.
King refused to be interviewed but provided agents the passcode to his phone and following a search, agents allegedly discovered several images that he had sent to the suspect in New York, according to the complaint.
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During the search of the home, authorities allegedly found a baby outfit that was consistent with a photo sent to the suspect in New York.
The complaint also alleged that after being shown an ultrasound photo sent to the New York suspect, King’s husband identified it as a photo of his unborn child that they were expecting through surrogacy in late March.
According to the complaint, the American Kennel Club’s website had King listed as an AKC dog show judge and a “board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist.”
The complaint also said that King is a dog breeder who operates a Havanese dog breeding kennel called “Askin Havanese.”
Other information about King that was publicly available detailed that he was scheduled to serve as a judge for the 2024 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
“We have been made aware of the charges against Dr. Adam King,” a spokesperson for the Westminster Kennel Club said on Monday. “The American Kennel Club has removed his judging privileges, and his judging appointment at The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has also been terminated.”
The FBI said King was listed as a staff ophthalmologist at MedVet Chicago and the Ophthalmology Department Lead for MedVet nationally.
A spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday night that King was no longer employed with MedVet.
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