Richard Cowell III jury trial delayed
NED NEWTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 2 months AGO
Richard Cowell III.
SANDPOINT — The jury trial for a Boundary County man charged with criminal conspiracy and rape of a victim under the age of 16 has been vacated and continued to Aug. 11, according to court records.
The delay in the jury trial for Richard Cowell III, scheduled to begin June 9, comes after the defense counsel filed a motion to continue Monday, June 2.
Defense attorney Dana Bowes asked for the continuance, saying the defense had not received the preliminary hearing transcript materials needed “to properly prepare for the jury trial,” which had been set for June 9-13.
The transcript in question stems from a March 17 joint preliminary hearing involving both Richard Cowell and Katherine Cowell, in which the alleged victims of multiple sex crimes testified the pair had coerced them into sexual relationships as minors. The victims, as well as the arresting officer, Boundary County Sheriff’s Office Det. Caleb Watts, testified at the hearing.
The decision to push the trial to a later date occurred at a status conference June 5.
The five-day trial has been rescheduled for the week of Aug. 11. It will be held in Bonner County.
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