The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday declined to review the case of a youth evangelist who was sentenced to more than 1,000 years in prison for sexual offenses against teenage boys.
Justices denied the petition of Paul Edward “Acton” Bowen without issuing a written opinion. Bowen in 2019 pleaded guilty to 28 counts involving six boys between the ages of 13 and 16. The charges include sexual abuse, sodomy, enticing a child for sex and traveling to meet a child for sexual abuse.
Bowen was a Christian minister who wrote books, ran his own youth ministry (Acton Bowen Outreach Ministries) and traveled to speak at youth events.
He was arrested on sex abuse charges in 2018 and authorities say additional victims came forward after he was in jail.
A judge in 2019 sentenced Bowen to more than 1,000 years in prison by giving him the maximum sentence on every count. Bowen is serving time in Kilby Correctional Facility where he was admitted in December 2019.
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8 Responses
He should have been executed. And so should all convicted sexual predators/offenders. Does this sound harsh? Yes it does! But just consider the heinousness of this type of crime and let your conscience be your guide.
Here is the list of formal convictions: http://www.doc.state.al.us/InmateHistory
Fortunately, he will spend the rest of his life in prison, but I do find it odd that none of these charges include rape. He received the max sentence for each charge with basically no possibility for parole in his lifetime, which is a just sentence. But had he gotten a different judge, or if all of the victims hadn’t come forward, it is certainly possible he would have only gotten 10 years and would have had the option of parole. I know in my state, offenders who commit statuatory rape are guaranteed jailtime, and 1 single conviction has a minimum sentence of 18 years. This is why it is SO important for these cases to be made public so that ALL victims can come forward so these offenders stay behind bars. It is a matter of public safety.
Excellent points, thank you for making them.
Considering the nature and the scope of this man’s criminal activity, I’m relieved to hear that he will be permanently removed from society.
Me too…
Why is it so hard for society to deal with all predators like this one?
May a millstone……
One is not ‘admitted’ to a ‘correction facility’. One is imprisoned.