Church Deacon Gets 30 to Life For Molestations

District Attorney Jan Scully announced Friday that Robert Cowan was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Del Oros to 30 years to life.

On July 22, 2010, a jury found Cowan guilty on 5 counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and the multiple victim enhancement to be true.

Cowan was a deacon in a large Baptist Church in Cool, CA. The victims are sisters, one seven years old and the other ten years old. Cowan would drive to Sacramento County and visit the victims at their home for Bible study every Thursday night.

The day the offense occurred, the victims were playing with Cowan in the living room while their parents and siblings were occupied in other areas of the house. Cowan put his hand down the pants of both girls and rubbed them on their buttocks. Cowan also fondled the ten year old victim, who reported the molestations to her parents within 24 hours.

Deputy District Attorney Kari Reeve states, “This case is particularly disturbing given the abuse of trust, power and position by a religious leader,” Deputy District Attoreny Kari Reeve said. “Today’s sentence is justice served for the crimes committed by the offender and for the two young victims.”