Former Omaha Boy Scout leader convicted of sex crimes

LINCOLN, Nebraska (KLKN) – A former leader of the Omaha Boy Scouts was convicted Friday of attempted sexual exploitation of a child.

John Shores, 55, was sentenced to 20 years in a federal prison, including 20 years probation.

As part of his sentence, Shores must also pay $7,600 in special assessments.

“I do not devalue what you have done for the community in the light of day, but what you have done here was done in the dark,” Judge Robert Rossiter Jr. told Shores.

SEE ALSO: Former Omaha Boy Scout leader pleads guilty to sex crime

Last year, Shores chatted online on his cellphone with an undercover agent posing as a 13-year-old girl.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Shores repeatedly asked the user to submit sexually explicit photos.

On August 10, 2023, Shores arranged a meeting with the user and arrived at the meeting point in Omaha as agreed.

Police arrested Shores and seized four cell phones from his vehicle.

When the phones were searched, numerous sexually explicit conversations were found with girls who claimed to be only eleven years old.