Man, Stepdaughter Try to Heal Relationship After Her False Molestation Charges Put Hi

sleuthin4fun

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2004
Messages
874
Reaction score
470
MARLOW, Okla. — A man says he wants to move on with his life after his stepdaughter recanted charges that he had molested her — a charge that landed him in prison for more than two years.
Kenneth Austin, 60, spent two years and two months in a prison in McAlester after being convicted in 1995 of molesting his then-12-year-old stepdaughter, Mandy Cowart. But Cowart, now 25 and living in Midland, Texas, recanted her story last fall.
Cowart said under oath that she had made up the story so that she could gain some freedom.
"I feel stupid now," she said this week. "I lied. Back then, I felt like I didn't have everything other kids had. When I made the allegation, I felt it was my only way out of the house.
"I felt guilt. At the time even, I had a lot of deep regrets. I just couldn't live with it anymore. I had to make things right."
Stephens County prosecutor Dennis Gay said he doesn't believe Cowart's new story.
"I didn't attend the trial, but I ready the transcripts," Gay said. "I have reviewed the evidence. Do I think an innocent man was put behind bars? No."
 
I'm confused. He was convicted in 1995, spent two years in jail, but the girl recants last fall, in 2006, and the judge orders a new trial? So he was out of prison by 1997 (1998 at the latest), but a new trial is granted in 2006/7? Why? Isn't it done and over already?
 
why is there even going to be a new trial? hes already served his time. there shouldnt be a trial just an investigation to make sure she is now telling the truth. I think maybe charges should be brought against her for false accusations and she should have to make a very public apology and pay some sort of restitution to this man who Im sure has worn a label as a child molester all these years.
 
just a guess but a new trial may be needed to remove his SO status. right now he may have to register as a sex offender, cant live near schools or parks, may need to attend therapy with other sex offenders, may have to take meds that lower his sex drive. lots of stuff that would need a new trial to stop. again this is only a guess.
 
Mandy Cowart? More like Mandy COWARD. Maybe she should face some jail time herself.
 
From the article linked above:
<SNIP>
But in January, Gay dropped the charges after a judge ordered a new trial after Cowart recanted the allegation. The conviction has been expunged from Austin's record.

Gay also decided not to pursue perjury charges against Cowart, saying it would serve no purpose because Austin already had served his sentence.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,270243,00.html#
 
so... how ws there enough evidence to put him in jail in the first place? do judges really only rely on victim's testimonies, and nothing else...?
 
so... how ws there enough evidence to put him in jail in the first place? do judges really only rely on victim's testimonies, and nothing else...?
--good question reb--and I wonder if cops ever polygraphed her originally?
 

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
108
Guests online
2,741
Total visitors
2,849

Forum statistics

Threads
590,014
Messages
17,929,004
Members
228,038
Latest member
shmoozie
Back
Top