Former Omaha Boy Scout leader pleads guilty to sex crime

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A former Omaha Boy Scout leader pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.

Last August, 54-year-old John Shores Jr. exchanged text messages and chatted online with an undercover officer who was posing as a 13-year-old girl, authorities said.

He asked for sexually explicit pictures, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

SEE ALSO: FBI Omaha still investigating ex-Boy Scout leader charged with sex crimes

Shores arranged to meet with the girl on Aug. 10 but was met by law enforcement instead.

Authorities seized four cellphones from his vehicle and said they uncovered evidence of more sexually explicit conversations.

One of those was with a 13-year-old girl in southeast Nebraska in July 2020, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Shores was a scoutmaster and commissioner in the Mid-America Council for Boy Scouts of America.

U.S. District Judge Robert F. Rossiter set his sentencing for Aug. 23.

Under his plea deal, Shores will get 15 to 20 years in prison.