Nov. 9 Update: The State Attorney’s Office dropped all charges against Charles T. Cowart on Nov. 2, except for a dru-possession charge, a third-degree felony.
Oct. 20–Charles T. Cowart, a 19-year-old resident of Kaiser Place in Palm Coast–not to be confused with his father of the same first and middle name–is at the Flagler County jail on $63,000 bond following his arrest Thursday on charges of child abuse, molestation, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, battery and drug possession. Three of the charges are felonies.
The case was brought to the attention of Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies by the father of a 15-year-old girl. The father found the girl, who frequently runs away from home, at 5 Red Birch Lane, apparently drunk and high on an unknown narcotic, after she had gone missing for a week. She was with several juveniles there. Once her father arrived, Cowart drove off.
The father gave authorities the car’s license plate number, and Cowart was located at U.S. 1 and Royal Palms Parkway with three juveniles in the car, all between the ages of 16 and 17.
A deputy interviewed the 15-year-old girl back at the Birch Lane house. She said she’d not been home for a while because of issues with her parents, and that she’d been staying with her boyfriend in the Mondex. Two days earlier, she’d been introduced to Cowart as a friend of her boyfriend’s. Cowart gave her and other juveniles rides around town for two days.
She alleged he would make repeated and inappropriate sexual advances, touching her thigh and chest even as she told him she did not consent, or touching her while making it seem it was accidental. He would also ask her, she alleged, if she had other friends between the ages of 15 and 17.
Cowart himself had dilated pupils and emanated a strong smell of alcohol, according to the deputy who arrested him and spoke with him at U.S. 1 and Royal Palms. The deputy described Cowart as “very deceitful in his statements by consistently changing his story.” Cowart told the deputy that he is a good friend of the girl. He denied making advances toward her, though he kept changing stories, the deputy reported, and was “unable to reasonably explain why his friend group consisted of solely juvenile individuals.”
Another juvenile told deputies she’d seen Cowart provide alcohol to the 15-year-old girl. Deputies’ search of Cowart’s vehicle produced a bottle of Alprazolam, a narcotic, with its prescription label ripped off, and a “small amount of marijuana.” Cowart was arrested and booked at the jail, where he remains.
Revolted says
Like father like son I guess.
Take a good look says
My heart goes out to him. As a family member, the local (and not so local) substance abuse and mental health systems have failed him repeatedly over the past few years. As a family member who is also a professional in the field of mental health and addictions, I only know this TOO well. Unfortunately, the systems in place are severely dysfunctional. I know he is not the only one who is experiencing this. Until awareness of this results in a radical change in the processes involved, nothing will improve and more lives will be lost on many different levels… physically, mentally, and spiritually. And society as a whole will continue to suffer and deteriorate. So very tragic and sad.
Philip says
The “How-To” on becoming a sex offender at 19 years old and destroying your future.
Atwp says
Issues with parents. At boyfriend in the Mondex. Meet Cowert. Alchohol and drugs. Sexual advances toward her. After leaving home life spirals down. It seems like home isn’t too bad.
Land of no turn signals says says
Just another upstanding citizen of Flagler county.
Concerned Citizen says
While a 19 year old definitely should be hanging out with people closer to his age, I think this is being blown way out of proportion. He has a 4 year age gap with the alleged victim. A girl who sadly has a lot of issues her self to deal with. Everything should be taken with a grain of salt. Especially these days when so many false allegations are thrown around like it is nothing. I know many false felony arrests that have occurred in Flagler county only to later be handed off to the misdemeanor court and subsequently dropped. You never hear about that part, only the initial arrest.
Joseph Barand says
$63,000 bail, while Trump is facing 91 felonies and on most charges is out on his own without bail. When will the mighty be treated in the same manner as the average person.
ERod says
Stop dismissing the victimization of a 15 year old girl with obvious mental concerns so you can use this platform for a CHEAP POLITICAL STATEMENT.
SHAME !
Mary Fusco says
If this were not so sad, it would be funny. So, we have a father that has no control over his daughter. She runs away regularly. She is living with her boyfriend (no mention of his age) and is most likely not going to school. She gets caught drunk and on drugs and deflects the blame by saying this guy touched her thigh. Where was her boyfriend? Water seeks its own level meaning if she were on the up and up, she would not be with that crowd. Parents really need to wake up and start parenting instead of trying to be equals or friends. These kids are raising themselves and the outcome is not going to be good.
Local says
The 15 year old girl did not run away. She has been living at her boyfriends house for 20 months. The boyfriend also does not live in mondex. The girls father has had no problem with her living there. These minors are pretty good kids . They were recently introduced to the Cowart boy.
Mary Fusco says
So this young innocent has been basically living with her boyfriend since she was around 13? On what planet is this right? This girl is going nowhere fast and it has nothing to do with the Cowart boy. I raised 4 children, three of them girls and it is a challenge but the day that I would allow my 13 YO to live at a boy’s home, hell would freeze over. Amazingly lazy parenting is always someone else’s fault.
Philip says
A 19 year old can make decisions. He makes terrible decisions. You feel bad for him and blame “the systems”?
He drinks, does drugs and harasses, at the very least, minor girls. At 19 years, some people further their education, join the military, work for a living, but you want to blame the system for this guy’s choices.
He isn’t in need of being coddling.
Wow says
I think it is legitimate to point out that the wealthy get treated far differently.
TR says
Mary, my hat goes off to you with raising your kids the right way. I myself is a sibling of 4 and my mom and dad would never had let anyone of us leave to live with another teenager at the age of 13. These parents dropped the ball on knowing where their kid is and knowing what they are doing. This is a big problem with kids and parents today and if things don’t change soon, it’s only going to get worse. We all can see it (if you want to) happening today.
Jolene Dehart says
Except the father and totally changed his life and is a Pastor for the last 2 years.
Racist rons golf simulator says
Matt Gaetz (R) got to sabatoge his own sex trafficking charges. I agree the “justice system” only cares how much money you have its another american scheme. Its why they take voting rights for felonies to punish the black and brown people cause they have less money and are far more likely to plead guilty to a crime they didnt commit to avoid a harsher sentence.
Look at the epstein list the judge wouldnt release likely cause his name was on it or was paid to withhold it.
Sounds more like sexual assult than child abuse and molestation to me. I doubt a minor could afford good legal defence. It seems to be a trend they charge kids under the age of 18 as adults when they want to. He will make some money for the for profit prision.
Shocked says
Phillip how do you know the accusations are true? While you are right about his poor decision making, I know him personally and he has suffered from depression and drug addiction for almost 3 years. Yes drugs do screw up your life Phillip. The system has failed him. The family has tried on multiple occasions to seek help for this young man. Is it an excuse for molestation? Absolutely not. But you are assuming this is true. Unfortunately false accusations of the sort are all too common these days. It seems to be a trend, “me too movement”. Everything does need to be taken with a grain of salt like another commenter said. Seems like the young girl wanted to take the deflection off her and put blame on someone else. Sad and unfortunate.
Philip says
Well then, take it a step further: How do I know what you are saying is true?
The system? What is “the system” you speak of? It’s a vague and over used term. Do you mean government? Local, state or national? How much of one’s life is any government body supposed to get involved in? He and his family need to take care of their own business…not “the system”.
Shocked says
So if she recently met the Cowart boy, how did he contribute to her delinquency? I thought the father was ok with her living with her boyfriend?
Shocked says
When the child legally becomes an “adult” the parents and or family members have no choice but to turn to the “system” Phillip, especially if the newly turned adult doesn’t believe they need help or have an addiction. How do you propose the family should handle it? How would you have handled it?
Shocked says
To answer your question Phillip, you can’t be certain that I’m telling the truth. Just like you shouldn’t believe everything you read or hear which in your case you’re quick too.
Take a good look says
Shocked thank you do much for providing such needed awareness of the facts surrounding these types of things. Not only for Charles, but for all the other people who are so wrongly judged on by those who erroneously “jump to conclusions” about others in which they know NOTHING about their personal circumstances. People please check your own selves before you post false assumptions! Unfortunately I’ve seen this happen repeatedly on this platform with other people over the years. For shame! The truth will eventually prevail.
Philip says
First…do you think any D. A. wants to bring a case to court that doesn’t have a strong foundation?
Secondly, asking me how I would handle it is like asking me how I would handle someone sticking a gun to my head. I wouldn’t know until I was in the situation. Speculation is nonsense.
Philip says
What’s your next step… name-calling? You read my comments on this story and you’ve already placed me into your imaginary file system under ” This person believes everything he reads”
I have thoughts and opinions and I state them.
Steve says
How about he has failed himself in alot ways. The responsibility is on him to an extent right
Shocked says
Ofcourse not Phillip. You placed yourself under “your imaginary file system. I’m simply explaining to you the facts.
Shocked says
Ofcourse the responsibility is on him, if he truly committed the crimes that is.
Shocked says
My point exactly Phillip. Since you have never been in that situation and wouldn’t know what to do until you were, do not perceive to tell the family how they should handle it.
Steve says
I was Speaking about his past that you brought up. He is Innocent until proven Guilty right.