Former Portland Community College coach sentenced to 162 months in prison for sexually enticing minor

A former Portland community college coach has been sentenced to federal prison for having sexually explicit conversations with a minor, following an investigation that exposed the dark side of trust in sports mentors. Nathan Ezell Bowie, 38, the former head coach of the Mt. Hood Community College men’s basketball team, will serve 162 months in prison, accompanied by 20 years of supervised release, as imposed by the court after he was convicted of sexual enticement of a minor, the Justice Department said.

While serving as a university coach, Bowie was involved in coaching activities at a high school basketball camp in Oregon in November 2021. He encouraged students to contact him digitally, a seemingly innocent gesture that would later escalate into a series of criminal acts. During the trial, it emerged that a minor who asked Bowie for basketball practice had been coerced into sending inappropriate images. This coercion continued until another coach discovered the disturbing correspondence in January 2022 and brought it to the attention of law enforcement, leading to immediate intervention.

An indictment was immediately filed on March 15, 2022, detailing the serious nature of Bowie’s offenses, including sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement, and receipt of child pornography. Bowie later acknowledged that he was in a legal quandary and pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor on May 15, 2024.

In pursuit of justice, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and FBI Portland’s Eugene Resident Agency worked together, with Assistant District Attorney for the District of Oregon Jeffrey S. Sweet leading the prosecution. While the closure of this case has consequences for the perpetrator, the FBI continues to encourage the public to remain vigilant and proactive by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) for information regarding child exploitation.