On 05-13-2025, a 15-year-old student at Explorer K-8 informed school administration that a teacher, identified as Jonathan Rowe DOB/03-05-1980, had shown a cell phone picture of his genitalia to the student.
The student told investigators that he was in Rowe’s classroom due to the
teacher having a planning period.
Rowe and the student had previously taken a photo together in the classroom.
The student asked Rowe to view the photo.
Rowe proceeded to retrieve his cell phone and immediately began scrolling
through photos on the phone. The student advised as Rowe scrolled through the
photos, he would stop on photos of what the student believed was Rowe’s genitalia.
He further advised Rowe then asked him to take the cell phone into the bathroom to take pictures of his genitalia to then show Rowe, which the student refused to do.
Upon questioning, Rowe told investigators he did have pictures of his genitalia on his phone, however, he declined to answer whether he showed those pictures to the student.
On 05-19-2025, Rowe was arrested at his Spring Hill home on charges of Showing
Obscene Material to a Minor and Unlawful Use of a Two-Way Device, both felonies.
He was transported to the Hernando County Detention Center where he is being
held in lieu of a $25,000 bond.
Rowe is a citizen of Jamaica, who is currently in the United States on a J-1 visa. This type of visa allows foreign nationals to enter the U.S. for educational or exchange programs. Rowe has been employed as a teacher at Explorer since the start of the current school year.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) within the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency has been notified of the incident for the purposes of obtaining a detainer, which starts the deportation process.
While no other victims have been identified, the investigation remains active. Anyone who has information pertaining to this incident is asked to call the Hernando Sheriff’s Office at 352-754-6830.
Hernando County Crime Stoppers / Anonymous Tips
If you have information on this case, please contact Hernando County Crime
Stoppers. You will remain anonymous!
Hernando County Crime Stoppers can be reached by phone at 1-866-990-TIPS
(8477) or **TIPS from a cell phone.
You may also submit your tip via the internet at
http://www.hernandocountycrimestoppers.com .
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