BOZEMAN – A Belgrade man accused of sending child porn to his son pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to sexual abuse of children.
Garland Lowman, 39, entered his plea in Gallatin County District Court following his arrest in March for allegedly sending his son sexually explicit Facebook messages that contained child pornography.
Lowman is a registered sexual offender and currently under supervision by the Montana Department of Corrections.
According to charging documents, a deputy from the Lane County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon called the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Mar. 6, to report that an Oregon man claimed he received Facebook messages from his father that contained child pornography and were sexually explicit.
When contacted by law enforcement and probation officers, Lowman admitted sending photographs to his son but stated they were images he downloaded from the internet, but he didn’t consider them child pornography.
A search of Lowman’s cell phone revealed at least three images of prepubescent females, fully nude.
Judge John Brown continued Lowman’s bail at $500,000; his next court date is an omnibus hearing scheduled for April 26.
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