Acton Bowen Tried To Contact Victim From Jail: Prosecutor

ETOWAH COUNTY, AL - Evangelist and youth minister Acton Bowen, who is in jail in Etowah County awaiting trial on multiple sexual abuse charges, reportedly tried to contact one of his accusers from jail. Prosecutors on Friday filed a request that a judge set limitations on Bowen’s contacts outside the jail.

Bowen was arrested a year ago by the Hoover Police Department on charges of sodomy, enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes, and second-degree sex abuse. A week later, Bowen was booked into the Etowah County jail on felony charges of sodomy and enticing a child for immoral purposes. He was also charged with three counts of second-degree sexual abuse. Bowen is accused of sexually abusing four juveniles between the ages of 12 and 17 over a "period of many years," according to the Etowah County Sheriff's Office.

According to court filing by Etowah County Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith, at least one of the victims had been contacted directly by Bowen via text message or email while he’s been jailed in the Etowah County Detention Center.

“The state reviewed jail records which confirmed the victim’s report,’’ Griffith said. “The defendant’s messages also appear to indicate that there has been contact with other victims, either directly or indirectly, while the cases were pending.”

Griffin also indicated that the text messages were intended to sway the victim's testimony. “The contents of the messages clearly indicate an intent to influence the victim’s feelings, and potentially his testimony," Griffin said in her statement. “The state contends that all crime victims should be protected from harassment or intimidation by a defendant pending trial, no matter the charges are, but even mores o in cases involving physical or sexual abuse of a child."

Bowen is set to go on trial in Jefferson County in May.