SANDPOINT — Katherine Cowell’s anticipated trial that was slated to occur this year has been continued to a February setting.  

Cowell, 51, is expected to appear in court Feb. 2 for a pretrial conference and Feb. 9 for a five-day jury trial, where a group of jurors will determine if there is sufficient evidence to charge her with two felony counts of lewd conduct with a minor. The charges stem from an alleged incident that took place between 2012 and 2015.  

The Naples woman was originally expected to stand trial July 14 of this year before several continuances pushed the trial into 2026.  

If found guilty, Cowell could be sentenced to life in prison for the alleged involvement of sexual contact with a minor. Her husband, Richard Cowell III, 55, pleaded guilty to similar charges in July of criminal conspiracy and lewd conduct with a minor, for which he was sentenced to serve 17 years in prison before being eligible for parole.  

Court documents indicate that the crimes he pleaded guilty to were allegedly committed with his wife, Katherine. However, prosecutors note that his plea does not legally affect her presumption of innocence.  

Cowell remains at the Bonner County Jail on a $1 million bond, despite multiple requests for either a bond reduction or to be released on her own recognizance. 

Police arrested Richard and Katherine Cowell on Feb. 5 at their home in Naples, which doubled as an unlicensed child daycare.   

Court documents contend that the alleged abuse took place between 2012 and 2015, with the daycare opening its doors in 2019. The daycare permanently closed its doors six days after the couple’s arrest.  

During a joint preliminary hearing, the alleged victims testified they were coerced into sexual relations with the couple as minors. At Richard’s sentencing, both victims provided statements as well, noting Richard’s lack of accountability for the actions to which he pleaded guilty.