Daycare shut down after alleged child abuse

NAPLES — Police arrested a married couple Feb. 5 at their Naples home, which doubled as an unlicensed child daycare, over charges of lewd conduct with a minor.

Richard and Katherine Cowell opened Little Zookeepers Daycare in 2019, but the alleged child abuse took place between 2012 and 2015, according to court records. The daycare announced their permeant closure on Feb. 11, six days after the arrest.  

Boundary County Sheriff’s Det. Caleb Watts said there are believed to be no other suspects in the case. 

Boundary County Sheriff Travis Stolley said his office has begun applying for and serving search warrants as part of its ongoing investigation into the allegations. 

Law enforcement urges other victims to come forward 

Since the arrests, some parents have taken to social media to express concerns that their children, who attended the daycare, may be victims as well. 

BCSO officials encourage any parent who believes their child is a victim to reach out to investigators.

“Right now, we are focused on the investigation and doing everything we can to make sure these victims are supported,” said Boundary County Sheriff Travis Stolley.  

Stolley said possible minor victims may be asked to take part in a forensic interview at the Safe Passage Children’s Advocacy Center in Couer d’Alene. 

At SPCAC, children are interviewed once by a certified forensic interviewer who collaborates with child protective services, law enforcement, prosecutors, family advocates, and medical and mental health professionals. 

“It's up to the parent to make the best decision for their family, to report that or not, and how they do that,” Stolley said. “If they report it to our office, we can take them through the process and try to make it the least traumatic possible.” 

Stolley: “We put feelings aside to do the right thing.” 

Watts said the county’s small staff of investigators have been working day and night on the case since the allegations were reported. He said local law enforcement has not been in communication with state or federal investigators at this time, and the investigation is likely to remain local. 

Both Cowells will each have a preliminary hearing on Feb. 18. Both are being held on a $1 million bail. But Katherine Cowell’s defense attorney Catherine Enright will argue that her client’s bail is excessive and should be reduced to $500,000, according to court records. 

Court proceedings were moved to Bonner County after Boundary County Prosecuting Attorney Andrakay Pluid recused herself from the case due to her professional relationship with Bonners Ferry Police Chief Willie Cowell, who reported the allegations made against his brother, Richard, and sister-in-law, Katherine. 

“We live in a small community, and I love that. But the reality is there’s times we arrest people that we are friends with. We have to put our feelings aside sometimes,” Stolley said. “It doesn’t matter who you are or who you know, if a crime is recorded, we’re going to do the right thing and investigate it. And that’s exactly what Chief Cowell did. He found out about the allegations, and he reported it. He was in a difficult situation, and he did the right thing.”