Victims take the stand against Cowells
Alleged victims testified March 17 that they were coerced into sexual relationships with Richard and Katherine Cowell as minors.
Photo by NED NEWTON
SANDPOINT – During the March 17 joint preliminary hearing for Richard and Katherine Cowell, a Boundary County couple facing multiple sex crime charges, the alleged victims testified they were coerced into sexual relationships as minors.
About 40 people, including many family members of the Cowells, filed into the small courtroom in the Bonner County Courthouse to watch testimonies of the two victims and Boundary County Sheriff’s Office Det. Caleb Watts, the arresting officer, in front of Richard and Katherine Cowell, shackled and in yellow jumpsuits alongside their respective defense counsels.
Bonner County Deputy Prosecutor Sarah Hyde called Watts to the stand first, where he laid out the timeline of events on Feb. 5 that led to the independent arrests of Richard and Katherine Cowell.
Then the first victim, 26, testified, followed by the second victim, 24. After identifying the Cowells in the room, they described incidents of alleged abuse as well as the process of coming forward to law enforcement.
During his testimony, the first victim alleged he was coerced into a sexual relationship with Katherine Cowell between the ages of 15 and 17 years old. He said he was prompted to come forward to law enforcement after recognizing in other children similar behaviors to those he experienced during the alleged abuse.
“I saw wrongdoing and abuse in the actions of [Katherine and Richard Cowell],” he testified. “I could no longer bear to see any of that go on.”
He said he first confided in several others, including Bonners Ferry Police Chief Willie Cowell, before speaking to Watts. Within hours, both Richard and Katherine Cowell were taken into custody.
Watts, who was off duty when he received a call from Boundary County Sheriff Travis Stolley, met with Chief Cowell and the first victim at the BCSO office the night of Feb. 5. He then called Richard Cowell to the station for a voluntary interview, after which Watts made the first arrest, he testified.
Watts testified that Richard Cowell seemed calm, responding directly that he did not know anything about the allegations, but at the same time his heart was pounding as if he “should have been running or in a wrestling match.”
After arresting Richard Cowell, Watts went to the Cowells’ home in Naples, where he conducted an interview with Katherine Cowell. Watts testified the interview was “a little bit odd” because she did not respond to questioning about the victim but instead brushed her hair and smiled.
During the various testimonies, members of the courtroom audience commented amongst each other on how Katherine Cowell showed a similar demeanor, flashing smiles.
Watts testified that she initially said she didn’t want to speak because she feared getting into trouble. After continued questioning with no response, Watts proceeded with the arrest.
The following day on Feb. 6, the second victim came forward, telling law enforcement that she had been coerced into a sexual relationship with Richard Cowell from ages 14 to 20.
The claim led to an additional charge added to each of the Cowells’ cases on Feb. 14. Richard Cowell faces one charge of criminal conspiracy and one charge of rape of a child under 16. Katherine Cowell faces two charges of lewd conduct with a child under 16.
Richard and Katherine Cowell had operated a child daycare out of their home since 2019, but it announced its permeant closure on Feb. 11, six days after the arrests.
Currently, no charges associated with the daycare have been brought against the Cowells.
Richard Cowell is scheduled to be arraigned on April 2 at 9:30 a.m. Katherine Cowell is scheduled to be arraigned on April 4 at 9:30 a.m. Both will be held in Bonner County.