CASE UPDATE: Mayor of Bloomsburg Resigns, Waives Preliminary Hearing for Soliciting Prostitutes

May 17, 2018 | Topic: Criminal

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today announced that the Mayor of Bloomsburg waived his preliminary hearing on charges of patronizing prostitutes. He also tendered his resignation as Mayor of Bloomsburg and town constable, effective immediately.

Eric T. Bower, 36, of East Third, Bloomsburg, was charged with patronizing prostitutes on April 20 after he solicited sex from a Pennsylvania State Police confidential informant. Bower negotiated a fee for sex with the informant and arrived at the location with cash and condoms, where he was taken into custody by police. The case was referred to the Office of Attorney General by Columbia County District Attorney Thomas E. Leipold.

“This mayor flouted the law and solicited sex from a prostitute on multiple occasions,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “No one is above the law.  As Attorney General, I will not allow individuals in power to abuse the trust the public has placed in them. I’m rooting out public corruption wherever we find it, without fear or favor.”

The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Anthony W. Forray.

# # #