Madison County Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Distribution of Child Pornography and Sexual Abuse History

LEXINGTON, KY—A federal judge cited a Richmond, Kentucky man's lengthy history of sexual abuse of children and his distribution of thousands of child pornography images as reasons for sentencing him to 30 years in prison. Kenneth Rowe, 61, was sentenced on two counts of distribution of child pornography.

U.S. Chief District Court Judge Jennifer B. Coffman also stated that the public needed protection from Rowe.

"I will not take the chance and put one more child at risk," said Judge Coffman. "If even one more child is abused then I haven't done my job."

The facts at sentencing demonstrated that Rowe not only distributed child pornography but also sexually and physically abused his stepson and his stepgrandson numerous times over a seven-year period. Rowe was previously convicted for abusing the same 10-year-old grandson.

Rowe lived in Madison County and operated a dental lab in Lexington with his stepson. He admitted that between October and November of 2009 he downloaded and distributed child pornography.

A forensic examination of Rowe's computer at his dental studio earlier this year revealed over 5,000 photos and more than 20 videos containing child pornography. Rowe e-mailed some of those images to another individual.

Some of the child pornography videos featured minors as young as 3 years old engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults.

An FBI agent reviewed chats between Rowe and an undercover officer in New Hampshire and found that Rowe told the officer that he had engaged in sexual encounters with a 13-year-old and the 12-year-old brother of one of his previous girlfriends. According to the written plea agreement, the investigation started when a forensic examination of another suspect's computer, seized in Virginia by FBI agents in 2008, revealed numerous videos and photographs of child pornography e-mailed from Rowe. During the FBI investigation in Kentucky, it was determined that Rowe had uploaded additional child pornography, which was discovered after a tip was relayed to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Further investigation also established that Rowe chatted online with an undercover officer between October of 2009 and January of 2010 about Rowe's sexual interest in children. During the communication between Rowe and the undercover officer, Rowe e-mailed the officer videos of child pornography.

Federal search warrants were executed on January 10, 2010 at Rowe's dental studio in Lexington and his residence in Madison County. According to court pleadings, Rowe was convicted in 1988 in Nevada for lewdness with a minor.

Kerry B. Harvey, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Elizabeth A. Fries, Special Agent in Charge FBI Louisville Division; and Rodney Brewer, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police, jointly made the announcement today.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Kentucky State Police, and the Madison County Sheriff's Department.

This case was brought as part of the Eastern District of Kentucky's efforts pursuant to Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative dedicated to protecting children from online exploitation and abuse.