Volunteer coach and attorney arrested for child abuse

PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. -- Pinellas County Sheriff''s Office have arrested a man for child abuse and possession of child pornography.

On October 20, 2015, detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit received information from the Pinellas County Schools Police reference a possible child abuse case.

The suspect was identified as 56-year-old Frederick T. Lowe, a volunteer junior varsity basketball assistant coach at Eastlake High School, and a real estate and criminal lawyer by trade.

The victim was identified as a 16-year-old male.

"This guy and this stuff is about as sick as it gets," said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.

Through their investigation detectives learned that the teen was being mentored by Lowe at his home in Palm Harbor. Detectives discovered that Lowe had called the teen a "bad boy" and that he made the teen remove his clothing in front of him and wear a diaper as punishment for being disruptive and disrespectful at school.

Detectives say that Lowe began mentoring and tutoring the child in his home around April of 2015 through about September of 2015 and that during that time frame, on approximately five occasions,  Lowe disciplined the boy. Detectives say the "discipline" included making the boy urinate in the diaper.

Investigators then say Lowe would change his diaper "like a baby."

Through their investigation detectives also recovered a text message containing sexual innuendo that Lowe sent to the victim.

Detectives also say that on several occasions Lowe kissed the boy on the mouth by grabbing his face and told the boy that he loved him.

Through various interviews, detectives also discovered that Lowe had a history of viewing child pornography; and that he had previously propositioned another boy for a sex.

Detectives developed probable cause for the arrest of the suspect and during the early morning hours of December 12, 2015 arrested the suspect for one-count child abuse, and three-counts possession of child pornography.

Detectives located multiple pornographic images of children engaged in sex acts on Lowe's home computer.

Lowe has been charged with one count of Child Abuse and three counts of possession of Child Pornography.

Detectives say additional charges may be forthcoming.

"When you get a lawyer doing this, somebody who is supposed to protect people's rights, [it] just exacerbates it and makes it worse. He's a predator," Gualtieri said.

At this time, detectives are asking any potential past victims or  anyone with information that would assist investigators in this case to contact Detective William Kenna or Corporal Mike Kolenda of the Crimes Against Children Unit at 727-582-6200; or to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1800-873-TIPS.

To watch Sheriff Bob Gualtieri's full press conference, click HERE: