A 19-year-old Amarillo man is facing multiple felony charges in Randall County following allegations involving sexual assault of a child, online solicitation of a minor, and possession of child sexual abuse material. Separate charges have also been filed against two adults accused of failing to report suspected child abuse connected to the case.
Court records show William Reid Lowe, 19, was formally charged on April 9 with five counts of sexual assault of a child, along with additional counts of indecency with a child involving sexual contact, possession or accessing child pornography involving sexual conduct, and online solicitation of a minor.
The allegations span multiple incidents in 2024. According to court filings, Lowe is accused of committing four counts of sexual assault on June 30, 2024. On that same date, he is also alleged to have solicited a minor for explicit photographs. A separate alleged sexual assault is recorded as occurring in December 2024.
Investigators further reported that in January 2025, Lowe was found to be in possession of fewer than ten files containing child sexual abuse material. Evidence reviewed by law enforcement reportedly included data from a cellular device indicating downloads associated with the alleged offenses. Court documents indicate that Lowe acknowledged possession of the illegal material during the investigation.
Bond recommendations in the case range from $10,000 to $80,000 for each individual count. Records also show that Lowe waived his right to an arraignment during early court proceedings.
Under Texas law, defendants may in some circumstances raise an affirmative defense if they are within three years of age of the alleged victim and both parties are at least 14 years old. However, this legal provision does not prevent charges from being filed and would only be considered later in the judicial process if applicable.
In a separate but related development, Chad Wayne Lowe, 48, and Joanna Tejeda Lowe, 47, are each charged with one count of knowingly failing to report suspected child abuse. Prosecutors allege that in July 2024, both individuals had reason to believe a minor had been abused but did not report the information to authorities as required by law. Those charges were formally accepted by the Randall County District Attorney’s Office on April 7, with bond recommendations set at $5,000 for each defendant.
Joanna Lowe is identified as the founder of Bright Minds Academy, a pre-kindergarten education program operating multiple locations in Amarillo and Bushland. The school was established in 2014, according to publicly available information.
Chad Lowe is listed on social media as being associated with the Amarillo Fire Department. In response to the charges, the department confirmed he has been placed on administrative leave. Officials stated that while they cannot comment on active legal matters, personnel are held to strict standards of conduct both on and off duty. The department also noted it is following all procedures required under Texas civil service law and emphasized its ongoing commitment to maintaining public trust and organizational integrity.
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