FAYETTEVILLE -- A former Fayetteville teacher was sentenced to federal prison Friday for trying online to entice a minor into having sex, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Evan Ballowe, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Tim Brooks to 10 years in prison to be followed by 15 years of supervised release after pleading guilty to charges of online coercion and enticement of a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Ballowe was in his third year teaching sixth-grade introduction to business communication and technology at Owl Creek Elementary when he was arrested, according to school officials. He was fired after his arrest.
According to court records, a 13-year-old boy told his school resource officer about a conversation he had with an individual on social media in which he was propositioned for sexual activity. The minor gave his computer containing the online conversation to law enforcement.
A review of the conversation showed that on Oct. 12, a user named Southern Guy contacted the boy asking if he was single, telling him he was cute, and asking his age. The minor responded he was 13, and Southern Guy said he was 15 and lived in Springdale.
Southern Guy proceeded to engage the minor in a sexually explicit conversation and sent him sexually explicit photos. The minor told Southern Guy he is not gay, but Southern Guy persisted, trying to convince the minor to sneak out of the house when his parents were asleep to meet him for sex.
Law enforcement was able to obtain the subscriber information related to Southern Guy, which returned to the Fayetteville address of Ballowe. After Ballowe made another attempt to contact the minor, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home.
During an interview, Ballowe admitted to using the online screen name Southern Guy and to engaging in the sexually explicit conversation with the boy. Ballowe was indicted by a federal grand jury Dec. 9 and pleaded guilty Feb. 3.
The case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Dustin Roberts, assistant U.S. attorney, prosecuted the case.
NW News on 06/25/2016