Marble Hill man jailed on charges of child sexual abuse

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Marble Hill man faces 15 charges associated with sexual abuse of three children younger than 14.

According to Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Gray, the majority of the alleged incidents involving the children occurred this summer; one was in 2005.

Tory F. Bowns, 50, is charged with nine counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, five counts of child molestation and one attempted statutory sodomy charge.

On Aug. 3, a parent of one of the victims took their child to the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department to speak with a deputy about the allegations of child molestation.

The victims met Bowns through a mutual friend of the families, the statement said. At the time they were introduced, Bowns was an employee of Southeast Missouri Hospital, but he no longer works there and is disabled, according to the sworn statement.

Nine of the charges involved a child younger than 12, meaning the crime carries a harsher penalty if Bowns were to be convicted, according to the complaint filed by Gray's office.

During interviews conducted at the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, one of the child victims said Bowns had taken them and a friend skinny dipping over the summer, viewed pornography with them, and watched as they took showers in his basement, according to a probable-cause statement.

Bowns also threatened to kill one of the victims and their family, according to the sworn statement.

On Aug. 5, deputies met with Bowns at his residence and asked if he would go to the sheriff's department for questioning. He went willingly, and during interviews with law enforcement he admitted knowing the victims, saying he had taken them to shoot shotguns, bows and arrows, and let them swim.

He also told investigators that he had supervised the children showering because his only shower was in the basement and had electrical connections close to the same area as the shower stall.

He denied letting any of the children view pornography and said he had not touched any of them in an inappropriate fashion.

Subsequent interviews with victims revealed an additional child who said they had been molested by Bowns, according to the sworn statement.

Bowns was taken into custody Monday afternoon, said chief deputy Stash Petton.

Bowns is currently in custody at the Bollinger County Sheriff's Department on a $250,000 cash-only bond, Petton said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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