University City man who fled to Asia during child porn investigation is sentenced
ST. LOUIS – A former law school student from University City appeared in federal court on Wednesday and was sentenced after fleeing the country during a child pornography investigation.
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri said Dominic Pavia, 42, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of possession of child pornography.
In December 2010, the St. Louis County Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit was alerted to a computer being used to store child sexual abuse material.
In April 2011, detectives seized computer equipment belonging to Pavia. A scan revealed child porn on the device. Pavia was taken into custody at the time.
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However, Pavia left the country for eight years, knowing he could be facing charges.
In March 2014, investigators conducted a thorough search of Pavia’s computer and discovered 4,641 images and 1,719 videos containing child pornography. Pavia was indicted on Nov. 19, 2014.
Meanwhile, Pavia traveled to China, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Philippines. He was unable to renew his visa in China in summer 2022 and his passport was due to expire in September 2023. Pavia returned to the United States in January 2023 and was arrested.
A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Pavia to seven years in federal prison.
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