POCATELLO — A federal jury in Pocatello has returned guilty verdicts against Lex Goodwin, 34, on five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography, according to U.S. Attorney Bart Davis.
Goodwin was also convicted of a sentencing enhancement for committing the crimes while he was already required to register as a sex offender.
The several-day trial wrapped up last Thursday evening when the jury returned their verdicts.
The investigation began in September, 2017, after Google reported that child porn had been uploaded to a Google account, according to court records.
An agent with Homeland Security Investigations obtained a federal search warrant for the Google account, which revealed that the account belonged to Goodwin.
“Within the account, the agent located several sexually-explicit images of a sixteen-month-old child that Goodwin had produced. The agent obtained additional search warrants authorizing the search and seizure of Goodwin’s electronics, including his cellphone, and a second Google account belonging to Goodwin. Additional files of the sixteen-month-old child that Goodwin had produced were located on his cellphone and in the second Google account. The investigation further revealed that Goodwin had attempted to produce sexually-explicit images of a six-year-old child and that he had possessed and transported numerous other files of child pornography,” according to a news release from Davis’ office.
Each of the five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor is punishable by fifteen to thirty years in prison. The charge of transportation of child pornography is punishable by five to twenty years in prison. The charge of possession of child pornography is punishable by up to twenty 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, authorities said.
The sentencing enhancement carries a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison to be served consecutively to the other counts.
Sentencing is set for August 12 at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
