FORT MYERS, Florida — Former Chillicothe‑area physician assistant Rufus Frank Lowman, who faces life in prison on child sexual abuse charges, remains in the Lee County Jail as his attorney seeks to reduce his bond and modify his release conditions, according to newly filed court records.
Lowman, 57, is charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious molestation — one a life felony and the other a second‑degree felony — stemming from allegations that he sexually abused his stepdaughter for years while the family lived in Lehigh Acres, Florida. He has pleaded not guilty.
A Lee County judge previously set Lowman’s bond at $150,000 on the life‑felony count and $100,000 on the second‑degree felony, for a total of $250,000. The judge denied a state request to hold him without bond but imposed strict conditions if he were to be released, including 24‑hour GPS monitoring, no contact with the victim or her family, and a prohibition on leaving Florida.
Defense seeks changes to release conditions
A new motion filed by Lowman’s attorney asks the court to reduce the bond and clarify pretrial release conditions, arguing that GPS monitoring can be supervised outside Florida and that Lowman should be permitted to return to Chillicothe under electronic monitoring. The filing states that Lowman has remained in custody because he cannot afford the current bond amount.
Lowman remains jailed
As of Tuesday, Lowman remains in the Lee County Jail on the full $250,000 bond, with no ruling yet on the defense motion.