Easley Man Pleads Guilty in Attempted Sexual Assault

An Easley man was sentenced to 17 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to an attempt to sexually assault an 11-year-old girl.

William Curtis Bowens, 53, of 211 North 2nd Street in Easley appeared before Judge Letitia Verdin Monday and pleaded guilty to charges of first degree assault with an attempt to commit criminal sexual conduct with a minor and kidnapping, according to a statement from 13th Judicial Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins.

Bowens was arrested after an incident that occured on September 1, 2011 when he called an 11-year-old girl, a distant relative and neighbor, to his home where he was sitting outside. Bowens, who walks with a cane, asked the girl for assistance getting inside his home.

While the girl was helping Bowens he grabbed her by the neck and pushed her inside his home and locked both the screen door and entry door behind him blocking her from leaving. Bowens then told the girl to take her clothes off, the statement said.

The girl was able to escape by pushing past Bowens and ran to her home where she told family members what happened. Her family then notified the Easley Police Department, according to the statement.

Bowens is currently on the Sex Offender Registry after a 1977 conviction for incest with a 15-year-old girl when he was 18. Bowens was sentenced to 10 years in prison on that charge.

Bowens is required to serve a minimum of 85 percent of the 17 year sentence before he is eligible for parole.