Fayetteville, GEORGIA

Sentenced to 20 years, with 15 to serve.

April 15, 2008 - Craig Bowen, 57, was arrested Saturday and faces charges of child molestation, incest and sexual battery for having “sexual contact with a female relative who is under the age of 16 between the years of 2000 and 2003," according to a police report.

The police investigation is on-going and other charges may be pending. He was Rising Starr Middle School social studies teacher since 1996. Bowen resigned.
Full Name: Craig Steven Bowen

April 15 - The Citizen reported that Bowen served on the Senoia Planning Commission during the latter part of 2001 and 2002. He also ran against Billy Horne in the race for Rep. Lynn Westmoreland’s vacated Georgia House seat in 2004. [TT - election results.]

Coweta County Investigator Casey Mullis asked that anyone with further information about Bowen contact him at 770-253-1502.

GUILTY VERDICT & SENTENCING October 28 - Bowen was found guilty of four counts of child molestation. He was sentenced to 20 years with 15 to serve in prison for each count of child molestation -- all of which will run concurrently.

Bowen sexually fondled the juvenile relative in Coweta County on several occasions beginning when the victim was around 5 or 6 years old and ending when she was 9 or 10. He was a foster parent until his arrest.

Bowen was offerred 20 years with 12 to serve. The judge said Bowen got a harsher penalty because he put the victim through a trial. The jury deliberated the case from approximately 2:50 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. before finding Bowen guilty on all counts.