Northern California psychologists gets 8 years prison for "extreme" child pornography

February 6, 2012

A Marin psychologist convicted of possessing child pornography was sentenced in federal court to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $50,000 to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Donald Tosti, 76, who surfaced as a pornography suspect after taking his computer to CompUSA for repair, was convicted on two charges of possessing child pornography after a search of his San Rafael home and office produced a "large collection" of child pornography, including depictions of the rape of very young children, according to U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag.

Haag issued a statement describing Tosti as a psychologist who founded the Independent Learning Schools.

U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White in San Francisco noted the quantity of pornography seized and the extreme nature of acts and images it contained as key factors in the eight-year sentence ordered Thursday.

Tosti was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 6, 2009. A second count was added when additional child pornography was found after his arrest.

Judge White also sentenced Tosti to a five-year period of supervised release and ordered him to pay $50,000 in restitution to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The sentencing followed a four-year investigation by the FBI and San Rafael Police Department. A San Rafael detective said police became aware of suspicions about Tosti in 2005.

Source: Nels Johnson, "Marin psychologist sentenced to 8 years in child porn case,"  Marin Independent Journal, February 6, 2012.