By: Luke Matheson
According to court documents, 86-year-old Rocky Goodwin, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Warren, had charges filed against him on Monday by the Bradley County prosecutor’s office following a year-long investigation by the Arkansas State Police Internet Crimes Against Children task force.
The investigation began after the task force received a tip on the child abuse hot line.
According to court documents, investigators found enough information from April through October between the subject’s internet service provider and ASP which led them to issue two administrative subpoenas.
Documents show that attempts were made by the Arkansas State Police to “determine if any wireless device was operating in an unlocked or open capacity” after investigators were able to link Goodwin’s phone records to an AT&T IP addressed linked to his address.
Court documents show that a search warrant was carried out in May of 2024 where investigators located multiple laptops and hard drive devices during the search, with one containing a compressed zip file with a sexually explicit label with the words “12 year old girl”.
On June 20, 2024, Arkansas State Police, and Digital Lab Manager Jeff Taylor conducted a digital imaging of a Gateway notebook computer where files, downloads, internet browser histories, caches, and operating system artifacts were recorded.
The imaging located 47 Category One images of Child Sexual Abuse Material, in addition to 24 Category 2 images on the device.
Goodwin has been charged with 10 felony counts of distributing/possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, with each count being punishable by 3 to 10 years of prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
His bail has been set at $150,000, and his passport has been surrendered.
