Jury finds Bowlby guilty on 19 counts of child sex abuse
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A jury found former Eldorado resident Brian K. Bowlby, 37, guilty on 18 counts of predatory criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse Thursday evening following a two-day trial. He was found not-guilty of one count of predatory criminal sexual assault.
The charges stem from incidents that occurred between 2001 and 2003 involving a young female family member. The girl, now 17, testified Wednesday the abuse began when she was 6 or 7 years old and ended when she was 11 or 12 years old.
The first witness called by the state to testify Thursday morning was Special Agent Rick White with the Illinois State Police. He was questioned by Assistant State's Attorney Eva Walker. White testified he received an initial report on the case in December 2010 after the victim revealed the sexual abuse to her mother, who called the police. White then contacted Bowlby, who agreed to meet with White for an interview at the Salem Police Department Dec. 27, 2010.
White's testimony revealed inconsistencies in Bowlby's story. White said Bowlby initially claimed he was being falsely accused for financial reasons, but eventually admitted to having molested the child in an isolated incident. During the same interview, Bowlby later indicated he had touched the girl sexually on multiple occasions, but insisted he never penetrated her. White also said Bowlby claimed the child initiated the sexual contact.
White also testified about a second interview he had with the defendant Jan. 25, 2011, in which many details of his story had changed.
"He had a completely different account the second time," said White.
Defense Attorney Lowell Tison then cross-examined White. Tison pointed out that even if Bowlby had admitted to touching the girl inappropriately at one point, 19 of the charges specifically relate to penetration, and must have occurred in Saline County for Bowlby to be tried here on the charges. Because the family moved around often and family members recalled things differently, it was difficult to pinpoint whether or not the abuse actually occurred in Saline County.
After the state rested its case, Tison called Bowlby to the stand to testify on his own behalf. Bowlby claimed not to remember either of the interviews he had with White, possibly due to medications he was taking at the time. During his testimony, Bowlby denied ever having touched the girl in a sexual way.
Bowlby was then vigorously cross-examined by Walker, who attacked Bowlby's assertion that he cannot remember the interviews with White.
"Why can't you remember?" asked Walker. "Is it possible that you don't want to remember what you said?"
Both sides gave their closing arguments, and the jury left to deliberate what they had heard in the courtroom over the past two days. At about 7 p.m., the jury came to a verdict. Emotions were high in the courtroom as Judge Todd Lambert read the 18 guilty verdicts and one not-guilty verdict.
Walker was satisfied with the outcome of the trial.
"It's been difficult for the victim and her family. She was very brave throughout the process," said Walker. "I am pleased she can now have some closure."
Bowlby's sentencing hearing will be held at 1 p.m. March 30.