LOCAL DAYCARE OWNERS ARRESTED FOR LEWD CONDUCT WITH MINOR

RICHARD & KATHERINE COWELL (IMAGE CREDIT TO 9B.News ON FACEBOOK)

On February 5th, Richard and Katherine Cowell were arrested after being investigated by Boundary County deputies for sexual offenses against minors. Richard and Katherine Cowell had operated an unlicensed childcare out of their home called the Little Zookeepers Daycare, which permanently closed its doors six days after the arrest. Richard was charged with criminal conspiracy and Katherine was charged with lewd contact with a child under the age of 16. Later, this charge was amended from lewd contact to rape. Both are being held on a $1,000,000 bond. It’s also important to note that the alleged incident involving sexual contact between Katherine and a minor took place between 2012 and 2015, four years before the Little Zookeepers Daycare was founded. Willie Cowell, the Bonners Ferry police chief and brother to Richard, was ultimately the one to turn his brother, along with his wife, over to the sheriff officials. Due to the relationship between the suspect and the police chief, Boundary County Prosecutor Andrakay Pluid recused herself from the case, leaving the case to be prosecuted instead by Bonner County. Richard and Katherine’s next court date is the 17th of this month.