Benjamin Goldsmith (Hennepin County Jail)
MINNEAPOLIS (KFGO) – A Duluth man is facing multiple charges for possession of child pornography and filming under skirts at high school graduation ceremonies in Minneapolis in June of last year.
Police were alerted by a witness who said Benjamin Goldsmith, 32, was outside the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena where high school graduations were taking place. The person told officers that they saw Goldsmith carrying a sweatshirt that had something bulky in it and when he approached metal detectors, he would turn away. Police say the sweatshirt Goldsmith was carrying had a hole, with only a camera lens visible.
Police recovered a camera, SD cards, sweatshirt and phone from Goldsmith.
The complaint, filed in Hennepin County District Court, say video clips from various graduations showed views from under female’s skirts. 144 separate victims had their privacy compromised according to the charges.
Officers also obtained a search warrant and collected several electronic items from Goldsmith’s car, which was parked near Marcucci Arena. One of those items was a hard drive that contained 151 child sexual abuse material images and videos. Officers also found programs for other high school graduation ceremonies in the vehicle.
The charges include three counts of possession of pornographic work, which carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or $5000 conditional release term, and three counts of interference with privacy, which carry a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail and/or a $1000 fine.
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