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Pocatello Man Convicted of Producing Child Pornography
A federal jury in Idaho has delivered a guilty verdict against Lex Bennett Goodwin, a 34-year-old man from Pocatello, on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.
The investigation that led to Goodwin’s conviction began in September 2017 after Google reported that child pornography had been uploaded to one of its accounts. An agent with Homeland Security Investigations obtained a federal search warrant for the account, which revealed that it belonged to Goodwin.
Within the account, the agent located several sexually explicit images of a 16-month-old child that Goodwin had produced. Additional files of the child were located on Goodwin’s cellphone and in a second Google account belonging to him. The investigation further revealed that Goodwin had attempted to produce sexually explicit images of a 6-year-old child and that he had possessed and transported numerous other files of child pornography.
Goodwin was also convicted of a sentencing enhancement for committing the crimes while he was already required to register as a sex offender. The trial began on May 20, 2019, and concluded on Thursday evening when the jury returned their verdicts.
Each of the five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor is punishable by 15 to 30 years in prison. The charge of transportation of child pornography is punishable by 5 to 20 years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Each charge is also punishable by a fine of up to $250,000, and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
The sentencing enhancement carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison to be served consecutively to the other counts. Sentencing is set for August 12, 2019, before Judge Nye at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations in Idaho Falls and the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. It was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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