An Alabama evangelist faces seven new felony charges on child sex crimes.
37 year old Paul Edmond Acton Bowen of Southside was arrested and charged with two counts of second degree sodomy, two counts of enticing a child for immoral purposes, all are felonies, and three counts of second degree sexual abuse, which is a misdemeanor.
Bowen allegedly sexually abused four juveniles between the ages of 12 and 17 over a period of many years. Several of the victims are adults who are just now reporting these crimes.
Bowen said in a Press Statement, (quote) “I have not done what I am accused of and have not acted inappropriately in any way, my family and I trust the legal system and the people who are entrusted with the duty of protecting each of our rights. I believe the truth will stand and I will be vindicated of this false accusation. We ask that each of you keep everyone involved in this process in your prayers (end-quote).”
Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin said (quote) “A priority of this Sheriff’s Office is to always protect those who cannot protect themselves, this investigation is very active and ongoing. Additional charges are to be expected (end-quote).”
Anyone who feels they have information concerning this case please contact investigator Brandi Fuller at 256-546-2825.
Bowen was booked into the Etowah County Detention Center on $500,000 cash bond. Upon release, he is to have no contact with the victims, no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 years old, must surrender his passport and will be supervised by Etowah County Community Corrections.
The Hoover Police Department, Shelby County Department of Human Resources, James M. Barrie Center for Children, FBI and the US Marshal’s Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force assisted in the investigation.
From AL.com reports;
According to Bowen’s website, which has since been taken down, he is a speaker, best-selling author and visionary. “Many words are used to describe him, but Acton Bowen’s only passion has been to connect people with the one, true God,” the website states. “Once recognized as one of the nation’s leading student pastors, God has clearly blessed Acton with the ability to reach today’s high tech, attention-lacking culture.”
His bio said he served for 12 years in a local church, led a citywide student Bible study in Gadsden and was also the host of xlroads TV, a worldwide broadcast viewed weekly by millions of teens and adults in every city in America and over 170 countries around the world. The website said Bowen is a cohost of Top3 on the JuceTV Network in New York City.
“Everyone associated with JuceTV was shocked and disheartened to hear of the egregious allegations made against Acton Bowen this week. Our prayers go out to those who may have been hurt and victimized,” a JuceTV spokesperson said in a Wednesday statement to AL.com. “Mr. Bowen made four appearances on JuceTV, an affiliate of TBN, the most recent last summer, but there are no on-going ties.”
Bowen served as a chaplain in the Summer Olympic Games in London and is the author of “Escape the Noise,” which reached the New York Times Best Sellers List and the Amazon Top 100 list. At one point, he was on staff at CrossPoint Community Church in Gadsden.
In his first public statement, Bowen said he wanted to say “thank you” to the countless number of people who have prayed for his family. “My wife, Ashley, and I along with our incredible family are so grateful for your prayers,” he said.
“I’m also thankful for the countless calls of support from those who have walked a lot of life with me and know me best,” he said. “Your steadfast, unshakable support gives me strength. For almost 20 years (since I was 18) my life has been committed to serving Jesus by serving people.”
“When this accusation was made known to me I was hurt, confused, and heartbroken,” he said. “Prior to the arrest only one side of the story was heard.”
