St. Paul psychiatrist charged with possessing child pornography

A St. Paul psychiatrist has been charged in federal court with possessing child pornography on his home computer.

Aviel Li Goodman, 62, was charged Wednesday in U.S. District Court with receiving child pornography. He could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Federal agents downloaded "numerous images and video files depicting child pornography" linked to Goodman's home IP address from 2015 to 2017, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

An FBI SWAT team searched Goodman's home at 1347 Summit Av. on Jan. 17. After knocking and announcing their purpose, authorities searched the house, where they found Goodman with a gun in his hand. Following orders, he put the gun down.

A search of Goodman's numerous computers uncovered about 400 images and 11 videos of what they deemed to be child pornography, the criminal complaint said. Authorities also found anxiety and depression prescriptions, written for Goodman, along with six handguns and a rifle in his home.

In 2005, Goodman was reported to police for taking photos of young girls at the Minnesota State Fair. He told the investigating officer he was a psychiatrist and a freelance photographer on the side, adding that he liked to photograph children because you could "see more in their faces," the complaint said.

He captured photos primarily of dolls for three years on his photography website before venturing to human subjects, including children.

Goodman admitted to possessing, receiving and distributing child pornography through a file-sharing program called Transmission.

A preliminary submission of files to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children found 15 photos and a video that depicted child sexual assault. More evidence will be reviewed, which could take months.

Trevor Squire is a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment for the Star Tribune.