A Rising Starr Middle School social studies teacher faces charges of child molestation, incest and sexual battery after being arrested by Coweta County investigators, police said.
According to reports, Craig Steven Bowen, 57, of Plynat Street in Senoia, was arrested Saturday at his home.
The report, written by Investigator Casey Mullis of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Department, states that Bowen is alleged to have been having “sexual contact with a female relative who is under the age of 16 between the years of 2000 and 2003.”
According to the report, Bowen was initially arrested for aggravated sexual battery.
“In the course of the investigation, Mullis discovered that child molestation and incest had occurred as well as the intitial charge of aggravated sexual battery,” the report states.
The report also states that the investigation is on-going and other charges may be pending.
Administrators at Rising Starr Middle School sent letters home to parents Monday stating that “eighth grade social studies teacher Craig Bowen has been arrested and charged with aggravated child molestation in Coweta County.”
The letter also states that the charge does not involve “any students enrolled at Rising Starr or in the Fayette County school system.”
It also states that “Mr. Bowen is no longer teaching at out school,”and that Bill Trisler will take over Bowen’s classes for the remainder of the school year.
“I have confidence in his ability to make this transition as seamless as possible while upholding our high academic standards,” Principal Len Patton wrote in the letter.
According to officials at the Coweta County Jail, Bowen was still in custody as of late Tuesday afternoon after a bond hearing was deferred.
The Fayette County School System’s Center Office confirmed that Bowen had resigned from his teaching and coaching positions.
According to Melinda Berry-Dreisbach, Bowen coached basketball and track at Rising Starr.
Bowen was hired as a substitute teacher in Fayette County in 1995. On Aug. 26, 1996, he was hired to teach eighth grade social studies at Rising Starr.
In 1998 Bowen was hired as an After School employee, and until his resignation, was employed as an After School susbstitute.
“The school system has confidence in Mr. Trisler who will be taking over Mr. Bowen’s classes for the remainder of the year,” said Dreisbach.
“He is a long-term substitute teacher at the school and the Rising Starr administration speaks very highly of him.”
Apparently, all of the crimes took place in Coweta County, officials said.
|
