Case of Matthew A. Lowe

Baby Sitter, Camp Counselor Temp Dor Dorim

Weston, FL

Pleaded no contest in circuit court to three counts: two misdemeanor charges of exposure of sexual organs and one felony charge of aggravated battery.

Table of Contents:  

1. Teen Charged in Sex Assaults on Children  (04/01/2002)

2. Weston teen charged with sexual assault on four kids  (04/02/2002)

3. Weston teen in sexual abuse case gets probation (04/02/2002)

Also see:  

1. The Awareness Center's Brochure  

2. Jewish Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
3. Recidivism of Sex Offenders  (U.S. Department of Justice: Center for Sex Offender Management)
4. National Sex Offender Registry

5. Rabbis, Cantors and Other Trusted Officials

6. Offenders: Problems Our Parents Wouldn't Speak Of

7. Policies Addressing Victimization and Offenders

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Brownard Sheriff's Office - April 2, 2002

http://sheriff.org/about_bso/admin/media/newsdetails.cfm?pk=282&sType=M

BSO Case Number: WS02-02-2093

PIO Number: 02-4-7 Dates: Between January 2000 & August 2001

Place of Occurrence: Weston

Victim(s):

* 1. Name withheld, 4, male, Weston

* 2. Name withheld, 4, female, Weston

* 3. Name withheld, 3, male, Weston

* 4. Name withheld, 3, male, Weston

Suspect(s):

* Matthew A. Lowe, 15, 4/21/86

Description of Incident:

Broward Sheriff's Office detectives have charged a teenage boy with sexually assaulting four youngsters during baby-sitting sessions at their Weston homes. Under the advice of his attorney, 15-year old Matthew A. Lowe, accompanied by his father, turned himself into BSO detectives around 10:00 am on Tuesday, April 02, 2002.

Investigators are concerned that there may be additional victims because Lowe was a popular sitter in his community and served as a summer camp counselor at a Weston temple.

Det. Juanita Reid documented four incidents involving three boys and a girl, occurring over the past two years. The crimes came to light on March 19th when a Weston woman called BSO to report that her four-year-old son said his babysitter, Lowe, had exposed himself when the boy and his brother were three. The child said the teenager told him to "keep it a secret." Another boy told detectives that Lowe was babysitting him about six months ago, when that child was three, and engaged in a "game" that involved candy and nudity. The four-year-old girl also related a February incident, saying that while Lowe was babysitting he engaged in oral sex with her.

A forensic interviewer from the Sexual Assault Treatment Center interviewed all the children and all described sexual encounters with Lowe. As a result of the investigation, Lowe is being held at the Broward Juvenile Detention Center, charged with four counts of Lewd and Lascivious Exhibition, one count of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation, and one count of Capital Sexual Battery.

Lowe gained access to the children through the neighborhood and through his association as a counselor with Temple Dor Dorim. Any parents who believe their children might have had improper contact with the young suspect are asked to call the BSO Sex Crimes Unit Detective Juanita Reid at 321-4240.

INVESTIGATORS: Det. J. Reid, Sgt. D. Bjorndalen, CID

THIS REPORT BY: H. Graf & J. Leljedal / PIO 4/2/02 3:00 pm

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Associated Press Newswires - April 2, 2002

WESTON, Fla. (AP) - A teen-age baby sitter surrendered Tuesday on charges he sexually assaulted four children over the past two years while he cared for them in their homes, authorities said.

Accompanied by his father, Matthew A. Lowe, 15, surrendered to Broward County sheriff's investigators.

Lowe was being held Tuesday at the Broward Juvenile Detention Center charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious exhibition, one count of lewd and lascivious molestation and one count of capital sexual battery for the four incidents.

The incidents involved three boys and a girl between January 2000 and August 2001, deputies said.

The investigation began in March when a Weston woman called sheriff's investigators and reported her 4-year old son was molested by Lowe, deputies said.

Investigators said they are concerned there are additional victims because Lowe was a popular sitter in the community and also served as a summer camp counselor at a Weston synagogue, Temple Dor Dorim.

Messages left at Lowe's home and the synagogue were not immediately returned Tuesday.

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Associated Press Newswires

November 18, 2003

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - A 17-year-old accused early last year of sexually abusing children while baby-sitting them in their homes was sentenced Tuesday to six years probation on lesser charges.

Matthew A. Lowe, who was 15 when charged, pleaded no contest in circuit court to three counts: two misdemeanor charges of exposure of sexual organs and one felony charge of aggravated battery.

The judge dismissed two out of three sexual battery counts against the Weston teen on Monday

"The case got chopped down little by little over the last 1 1/4 years," said the teen's attorney, David Bogenschutz.

He was sentenced as a youthful offender and must comply with a long list of rules, but will not have a criminal record if he completes probation successfully.

The mother of a victim whose daughter was three at the time the charges were filed said the case took too long to prosecute.

"I can understand why other parents didn't come forward," she said, minutes after the state and defense reached a resolution. "It's a brutal process."

Lowe was a baby sitter for the children between January 200 and February 2001. He met the children while working as a camp counselor at Temple Dor Dorim in Weston.

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Last Updated:  12/01/2004

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