Eight days ago Charles Cowart Jr., 30, was released from the Flagler County jail, where he’d spent six months on rape and kidnapping charges that were dropped. Cowart had spent several months in jail in late 2012 and 2013 on several charges stemming from a much-publicized incident that saw him riding a horse and eluding police through Bunnell.
Late Monday evening, Cowart was back at the Flagler County jail, charged with burglary.
A Flagler Beach police officer was dispatched to an address on North Central Avenue just before 10 p.m. Monday and told by the person who’d called 911 that a man had knocked on her door to inform her that someone had broken into the residence across the street. (The police report marks the address of the house broken into as 1353 North Central; it is, in fact, 1353 North Ocean Shore Boulevard.)
Two officers went to the residence. The front door was open. Inside, a man was sitting on the couch with dark blue paint on his hands and face, according to the arrest report. It was Cowart, whom police identified, the report states, “from previous dealings.”
“I observed that the front window of the residence was smashed out and in front of [Cowart] on a coffee table was a tire iron believed to have been used to smash out the front window of the residence,” the report states. Police also found a black trench jacket belonging to Cowart on the counter.
The 1,700-square-foot beach house actually belongs to the Cowart family –its registered owner is Patricia Cowart, according to the property appraiser’s records—and was one of the locations where Cowart and three friends or acquaintances had spent time with a woman on March 20, 2013, the night before Cowart and the trio took the woman to a Cowart hunting camp to spend the night. Flagler Beach police was called to that house that evening after reports of suspicious activity, but left without making arrests. It was that March 20-21 incident that led to a Flagler County Sheriff’s investigation into allegations that the woman had been kidnapped and raped—charges that the State Attorney decided not to pursue last week.
The night of the incident in March, Cowart was due at the beach house for a meeting. The house is tenanted by Joseph Mayo, a Cowart family friend who provided extensive witness testimony to the investigation into the March 20 incidents.
Flagler Beach police contacted Mayo, who was in New York, on Monday night to report finding Cowart in the house. “Mayo requested that Cowart be arrested for burglary of his residence,” the report states.” The bedroom in the southwest corner of the residence was also in disarray and the owner told me that it was not previous[ly] like that,” the arresting officer’s affidavit states.
Cowart, of 8185 West Highway 100 in Bunnell, was booked on a burglary charge and remained at the county jail Tuesday on $2,500 bond. Following his arrest in 2012 as a result of the horse-riding incident, Cowart’s father spoke candidly to media, saying his son had been dealing with a series of issues for a while, legal and personal. Cowart is a member of a long-established and prominent family in western Flagler County.
just the facts says
Like the cow that drank the bucket of milk said it all comes back to me now !
A.S.F. says
This is what happens when people are continually enabled so that they don’t have to face the consequences of their actions. Thank God he didn’t get a chance to hurt himself or someone else too badly on this particular occasion. I hope the wheels of justice will not be pre-empted this time around.
honestly says
See God will not let him get away with what he did. KARMA Hopefully the system will prosecute this time being that his daddy practically owns bunnell and all of its officials.
are you for real says
prominent family you mean the father and the mother are good people but the sons are screwed up. Drugs and all kinds of criminal mischief. Lets not go by the parents reputation.
Ron says
I don’t care how prominent his family is, or what kind of “legal and personal” problems he has, this menace needs to be taken off the streets of Flagler County.
He’s a punk… pure and simple.
Yellowstone says
This young man needs to get out of Dodge. He is a great candidate for the military. A real chance to change this imagine and reputation as a social misfit. Give him a structured 4 years and he will be an outstanding citizen – promise!
There once was a time when every young man was expected to join – or be drafted – or in some cases one of two options by the courts or parents – “Do not pass go, go directly to jail – or sign up.” It did a world a favor . . . (More ways than one!)
Amanda says
This is what happens when criminals get away with their crimes; They start to believe they are untouchable. Leopards don’t change their spots though and eventually their luck will run out.
just a thought says
Think Sweeter needs some true mental help not jail.
RHWeir says
Interesting. I wonder if the others will also get in trouble soon? I guess jail just didn’t impress the man. Will the court take that into consideration? Heck yes!
BillieBobBubba says
Lock this little criminal up for 5 years. Let’s see if the rich family will sell all their properties and homes to save this excrement .
Not sure says
I can understand if he was arrested for Breaking and Entering or something but how can they arrest him for Burglary when he didn’t take anything? Unless the story just left that part out? But if he was still in the house it would only be Attempted Burglary I would think. I am confused on the charge maybe Flagler Live can elaborate a little bit on that please.
just the facts says
Does anyone know if he rode his horse to flagler beach ? Hi Hoe Silver.
Bobbysue says
The wheels on the Bus go round and round……round and round……round and round…..the wheels on the Bus go round and round…..etc !!!!
The definition of insanity is when do the same thing over and over and over !!!!
Advocate says
He is a good guy going through a difficult time.
Seminole Pride says
A Habitual Criminal. Sounds like he doesn’t belong in our peaceful society.
Mary says
30 year old juvenile delinquent. So very sad that he never felt the need to grow up and become a productive member of society.
FlaglerLive says
Burglary strictly defined is not necessarily robbery, but the act of breaking and entering, whether something gets taken or not. The article did not leave out any details that were reported in the arrest report.
A.S.F. says
@Just a Thought Says–Explain that to the victim(s) of his next crime. Poor “Sweeter!” I think he has used up his full compliment of “Get Out of Jail Free” cards. And he has had plenty of time to get himself some help. Funny how only SOME people deserve all this compassion and understanding and other people don’t.
A.S.F. says
@Advocate Says–Difficult time and time after time, apparently. Being a “good guy” doesn’t absolve you from the consequences of the actions you do when you are not being such a good guy.
Ron says
Unfortunately, we have heard this excuse before.
Lots of people go through difficult times, and manage to stay on the right side of the law.
I have zero sympathy for this kid, or his family.