Former Arvada Firefighter Sentenced For Trading Child Porn

LAKEWOOD, CO – A former Arvada firefighter and Lakewood resident was sentenced Wednesday in Jefferson County District Court to six years of sex-offender probation. Michael Gowey, 35, pleaded guilty in July to one count of sexual exploitation of a child.

Gowey was nabbed in a multi-state sting that began in 2017 when Nashville investigators found a profile for someone on the social app Kik who allegedly sent 14 child porn photos to a Nashville man and asked for an Amazon gift card in exchange, according to an arrest affidavit.

Police traced the profile to an IP address at Gowey's Lakewood address in the 10800 block of West Connecticut Avenue. Gowey reportedly admitted using the Kik app to send "sexually exploitative material" when officers arrived at his house with a search warrant in November, 2017.

Gowey was initially charged with nine counts of sexually exploiting a child. He was arrested in March and posted $40,000 bond in Jefferson County District Court.

The Arvada Fire Protection District fired Gowey, a seven-year employee, when he was arrested.

"All of us at the Arvada Fire Protection District are shocked, angry, and saddened by the level of the allegations that have come forth," said a message from Arvada Fire Chief Jon Greer on the fire department's website.

Gowey will be required to complete sex-offender treatment and register as a sex offender for 20 years as part of his probation.

Related: Arvada Firefighter Child Porn Arrest: Lakewood Man Charged

Image Michael Gowey via JeffCo Sheriff's Office