Lebowitz case started in Coweta

Friday, March 05, 2010
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By ALEX McRAE alex@newnan.com In the ultimate irony, it wasn't a gay boy or a taped sex act that led authorities to Adam Wayne Lebowitz -- it was a straight teen from Coweta whom Lebowitz never laid a hand on. After a week of testimony and jury deliberation, Adam Wayne Lebowitz, an HIV-positive former Grady Hospital doctor, was convicted Thursday of federal charges of producing child pornography and attempting to coerce or entice a minor for unlawful sex acts.

During the trial U.S. Attorneys depicted Lebowitz as a sexual predator who had spent years searching the Internet for underage boys he could convince to engage in sex and, in some cases, have those acts videotaped. The case broke Oct. 26, 2006, shortly after Lebowitz first contacted Kenny Spurling -- then a 15-year-old East Coweta High School student -- on the MySpace social networking Web site. The initial contacts seemed innocent, with Lebowitz saying how much he admired Spurling's MySpace picture, which showed Spurling in a baseball uniform playing on the East Coweta ninth grade team. In instant messages sent from his computer, Lebowitz said, "That's a cool pic" and "Baseball players have great bodies." Spurling said that when the initial messages focused on sports he did not realize Lebowitz was gay and might be looking to pick him up. But in subsequent instant messages, Lebowitz said he had dated girls, bisexual and gay men, but that he was a "masculine man attracted to masculine men." Lebowitz began to press Spurling about sharing pictures. By Oct. 26, Spurling's suspicions were strong enough that he told his mother, Diane Spurling, who contacted the Coweta County Sheriff's Office. Beth Suber, then a Coweta Sheriff's Office investigator, was assigned to the case. She urged Spurling to stay in contact with Lebowitz and told him to print copies of all computer messages between the two. Suber also facilitated the recording of phone conversations between Spurling and Lebowitz. She told Spurling that although his MySpace page showed he was of legal age, Spurling needed to tell Lebowitz that he was actually only 15 years old. As Spurling continued messaging with Lebowitz on the Internet, the subject of nude pictures came up. Lebowitz asked if Spurling had pictures he was willing to share and explained why he did not have a nude full body shot. "It's that whole doctor thing and not wanting patients to actually stumble upon a nude full body pic of me online," Lebowitz' instant message said. Lebowitz told Spurling he would like to "hang out" and proposed taking and swapping photographs. Lebowitz said the photos would be "for our eyes only" and would not be shared. When the two discussed a personal meeting, the transcript shows Spurling saying, "I would drive up there but I'm only 15 and don't have a car." In a subsequent taped phone call, Spurling again tells Lebowitz he is underage and Lebowitz says, "You look like you're 16 or 17." Spurling replies, "I'm only 15." After learning Spurling is underage, Lebowitz continues to push for a meeting. But in taped conversations, he expresses concerns -- not about Spurling's age, but about being caught in a crime. Lebowitz says, "I've never met anybody underage. You look 16 or 17. Are you sure it's cool?" Spurling asks, "You don't think different of me?" and Lebowitz replies, "No, I just don't want any trouble for you or me... are you sure it's cool? I don't want to get arrested or anything." In the last recorded call, made on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006, Spurling tells Lebowitz he is at home alone. He asks Lebowitz how soon he can come over. Lebowitz asks, "How soon can you be ready?" and Spurling answers, "When you are." Lebowitz says, "Guess what? I'm right around the corner." At that point, Spurling can be heard on tape whispering to someone else, "He's here." When Lebowitz pulled into the driveway of the Spurling home, he was arrested by Coweta County deputies who found two open sleeping bags and sexual paraphernalia in Lebowitz' vehicle. During a subsequent search of Lebowitz' home, FBI agents discovered video images on a computer showing Lebowitz having sex with two young men. The two victims, from the Boston area and Trenton, Ga., were identified and more cases were brought against Lebowitz. In June 2007, Lebowitz pleaded guilty to two federal charges of producing child pornography and one charge of enticing or coercing a child to engage in illegal sexual activity. Lebowitz agreed to a sentence of 20 years, but after he voided the terms of the plea agreement the three cases went to trial. After Lebowitz' arrest, Kenny Spurling was hailed as a hero by authorities for uncovering activities that led to Lebowitz' arrest. Following the convictions this week, Spurling, now an 18-year old East Coweta graduate, said he didn't feel like a hero. He just felt relieved. "I'm happy it's all over with," Spurling said. "I'm glad he won't be bothering anybody else, but I'm ready to put it behind me and move on."

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