The Black Collar Crime Series relies on public news stories and publicly available information for its content. If any incorrect information is found, please contact Bruce Gerencser. Nothing in this post should be construed as an accusation of guilt. Those accused of crimes are innocent until proven guilty.
James Cowan, the pastor of Little River Community Church (no online presence) in Winthrop, Arkansas, was recently sentenced to fifty years in prison for raping three of his minor children.
The Texarkana Gazette reported:
A Little River County man has been sentenced to 50 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to three counts of rape.
James Edwin Cowan, 46, was charged with the rape of three minors, according to court records.
As part of a negotiated plea agreement, Cowan was sentenced Tuesday to 50 years in prison plus 30 years of a suspended sentence upon release, according to a news release from 9th West Prosecuting Attorney Jana C. Bradford.
Under Arkansas sentencing guidelines, Cowan will be required to serve at least 70% of his 50-year sentence years before being considered for parole.
The decision to offer a plea deal was made after consideration of the victims’ wishes, as well as the emotional and psychological toll that a trial would have placed on them, according to Bradford.
“This plea agreement was reached with careful attention to the needs of the victims, ensuring they would not have to endure the further trauma of testifying in a court trial. The safety and well-being of children is always a top priority for our office, and the resolution of this case reflects that commitment,” Bradford said.
“While no sentence can undo the harm done to these young victims, we hope this will provide a measure of justice and allow them to begin the long process of healing,” Bradford said.
Cowan also will be required to register as a sex offender should he ever be granted parole.
“This case underscores the critical importance of protecting vulnerable children from abuse and holding those who commit such heinous crimes fully accountable, ” Bradford said.
A former Arkansas pastor has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of raping his own minor children.
James Edwin Cowan, 46, will also serve 30 years of a suspended sentence after his release from prison, according to the Arkansas Southwest Judicial District prosecuting attorney, Jana Bradford. He must serve 35 years before he can be considered for parole.
According to court documents obtained by the Arkansas Justice Project, Cowan was charged with 28 counts of raping children and his trial was scheduled to begin on November 18. The children were said to be younger than 14.
He was the former pastor of Little River Community Church in Winthrop, Arkansas.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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