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Former Escambia Virtual Academy Administrator Charged With Sexual Assault Of Teen
December 1, 2020
A former Escambia Virtual Academy administrator has been charged with sexual battery of an underage girl over a period of several years.
Jeremy Shane Lowery, 46, was charged with one first degree felony count of sexually battery against a victim between 12 and 16 years of age by an adult in a familial or custodial authority. He was released from the Escambia County Jail Monday afternoon on a $10,000 bond.
None of the abuse was reported to be directly related to his employment at the school program.
Lowery allegedly molested the girl beginning when she was 13-years old, between January 2013 and January 2017. The victim told investigators that the molestation started with inappropriate touching and progressed over time to sexual intercourse, according to an Escambia County Sheriff’s Office report.
He would buy the girl items she needed or wanted and tell her that she owed him, the report continues, and he would also pay her for inappropriate pictures.
In June 2020, he again told her that she owed him for something and she was supposed to “pay him back” by engaging with him sexually, the ECSO said. She told deputies she decided to report the incident because Lowery was attempting to move away to avoid an investigation.
When she was 13 or 14 years old, the girl was sending nude photographs to someone that she had engaged in an online relationship, but she found those photographs on Lowery’s phone while helping him officiate a sporting event, the report indicates. Lower yadmitted to her that he had been looking at the nude photographs she had been sending someone else, the ECSO said.
The victim told investigators that the situation continued after she turned 18 and moved to college. She said Lowery would send her a list of things to due in lewd photos, send her money for sex or nude photos, and go to her house for sex.
Lowery met an investigator at the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. According to the report, he stated that he did not have his phone with him, but deputies found it in the trunk of his vehicle. Exterior cameras at the Sheriff’s Office showed Lowery walk toward the front door, check his pockets, return to his vehicle and place something in the trunk.
“It is reasonable to believe Lowery lied about forgetting his cellphone at a friend’s house to conceal the phone from law enforcement,” the investigator wrote.
The ECSO obtained a search warrant for the phone, finding searches for “delete Instagram account”, deleted snapchat, and “how to cancel facebook” that were made the day after the victim contact law enforcement. The victim identified herself in a nude photograph found on the phone, but it was taken after she was legal age, the report states.
Search warrants were listed as pending on additional digital devices.
Lowery made numerous statements to law enforcement, but they were redacted from the arrest report.
Lowery worked for several as an administrator for the Escambia County School District at the Escambia Virtual Academy.
In 2019, Lowery’s Florida educator certification was suspended by the state for three years as part of a settlement agreement. He was accused of making approximately 1,380 entries to 121 student records in the Escambia Virtual School summer program, modifying or entering 995 specific grades during July 2017, according to Florida Department of Education documents.
Comments
10 Responses to “Former Escambia Virtual Academy Administrator Charged With Sexual Assault Of Teen”
This guy used to be my FLVS teacher when I was 12 years old. A child molester (not known at the time but still) was literally put in charge of a whole class of 12 year olds. It’s extremely scary to think about, especially since there’s probably more teachers like that out there.
This is really, really sad. Jeremy and his wife were a long time Ernest Ward love story or so many of us thought. My understanding is they went to prom In the 90s, went their separate way in life, and found each other again in the early 2000s. Those of us who knew them from back in the day thought he stepped up as a man to take on his wife’s daughter as his own. From the outside (social media), it looked like a Disney fairy tale. It is heart wrenching that this is what was really happening. I believe it, but my heart hurts learning of this reality.
My heart is with all of the family but especially his wife (whether still his wife or his ex-wife) and her babies.
@Who are you to judge “I have known Jeremy for years. I can’t even for one second believe that this is true. I really feel he is falsely accused. You can’t truly believe until you have the evidence and there in person.”
I’ve also known Jeremy for years and WE DO KNOW HE MANIPULATED SCORES at the District. Who would have thought? I would like to believe he isn’t guilty as well but already there are signs of guilt. I.E. researching how to delete social accounts, lying about NOT having his cell phone when in fact they have him on camera walking BACK to his car and putting it in the trunk. I too feel for his family and can’t imagine the horror of having to walk thru this kind of traumatic situation. So, so sad.
I went to school with this guy for years! His teaching certificate was suspended for the same reason he lied to LE and was arrested for this – a sense of entitlement leading him to believe he could do things he wasn’t supposed to do and get away with it.
I have known Jeremy for years. I can’t even for one second believe that this is true. I really feel he is falsely accused. You can’t truly believe until you have the evidence and there in person.
Would you let Jeremy babysit your 13 year old daughter? Doubt it! He will get what he has coming too him when he arrives at Lake Butler if he makes it out of county.
I have known Jeremy for 10-15 years. Please think not only of the victim but Jeremy’s family as well. I’m NOT judging or defending him. We need to pray for the victim and Jeremy’s family. No excuse for this behavior. Be kind in your remarks. Thank you.
Sounds bad for ole dude… but hey, folks… remember, it’s innocent until proven guilty. If it’s true, that all this started before she was of legal age, lock him up. But there are a lot of things going on here…
Is anyone ever held without bail or is that just something on TV?
This is horrible, I wonder are there other kids that he has abused. He was one of the good old boys in the district. This makes me sick!!!