William Clarence Brower, Child Predator Sentencing, Boise ID, 2023

BOISE, ID – William Clarence Brower, 51, of Hazelton, Idaho, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 110 months, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for sickening crimes against children. Chief United States District Judge B. Lynn Winmill handed down the sentence yesterday, closing a case that exposed a depraved pattern of online predation.

The investigation began in February 2014 when Massachusetts State Police alerted the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force to a predator using the “Kik” messaging app. Brower was allegedly sending explicit photos to a 10-year-old girl. An undercover detective, posing as the child, quickly confirmed the horror: Brower responded to learning the child’s age with a chilling, “C00000l. I don’t mind that you are so young,” before continuing to send sexually explicit material.

Simultaneously, in Mesa, Arizona, sheriff’s deputies received a complaint about similar unsolicited, explicit messages and images being sent to a 13-year-old girl via “Kik.” Investigators in both states independently zeroed in on a suspect in Hazelton, Idaho: William Clarence Brower. It turns out Brower wasn’t a newcomer to this behavior. He had previously been convicted in 2008 of felony indecent exposure in Twin Falls County – a warning sign ignored.

A February 21, 2014 search of Brower’s home turned up a digital cesspool. Forensic examiners recovered over 24,000 images on his cell phone, including graphic child pornography, child erotica, images of him in female undergarments, and countless images of his exposed genitals. The investigation revealed Brower had been indiscriminately sending these images to strangers, many of whom he knew were underage, using “Kik.” He readily admitted to the widespread distribution of the depraved content and the possession of the illegal images.

U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced the sentencing, emphasizing the collaborative effort that brought Brower to justice. The Idaho Attorney General’s Office, Boise Police Department, Maricopa County Sheriff’s Department, Massachusetts State Police, and Jerome County Sheriff’s Department all played a crucial role in the investigation. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative dedicated to combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.

Project Safe Childhood, launched in 2006, brings together federal, state, and local resources to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those who prey on children. Those seeking more information about Project Safe Childhood or internet safety resources can visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Brower’s sentence serves as a stark reminder that those who exploit children will be held accountable, and the relentless pursuit of justice will continue.