HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that a former Bloomsburg University professor charged for possessing child pornography on his work computer pleaded guilty today in Columbia County Court.
Scott Lowe, 60, of Bloomsburg, entered an open guilty plea to four felony counts of sexual abuse of children relating to the possession of child pornography. In February, multiple photos of child pornography were discovered on Lowe’s computer after an audit of Bloomsburg University computers. Lowe entered his plea today before Common Pleas Court Senior Judge David Grine. Sentencing will occur at a later date, following a pre-sentence evaluation of Lowe.
“This professor committed one of the lowest kinds of crime – preying upon children – by possessing child pornography,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “He used his university computer as a tool to assemble a cache of child pornography. No one is above the law and we’re holding him accountable.”
Bloomsburg University referred the case to the Office of Attorney General in February. The university suspended Lowe after the child porn was found on his computer, and he then retired. Attorney General Shapiro thanked the university’s police department for its collaboration on the case.
“The agents and prosecutors in our Child Predator section work every day to keep predators out of our communities and keep Pennsylvania’s children safe,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “If you suspect a child predator in your community, I want to hear from you.”
Suspected predators can be reported by calling the Child Predator Hotline at 1-800-385-1044. If you suspect an online predator, send anonymous tips by texting PAKIDS + YOUR TIP to 847411.
The Lowe case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones.
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