Perry girls testify at hearing for ex-teacher’s aide
PERRY — Ten girls testified Monday during a closed hearing for a former teacher’s aide accused of fondling them at Upper Elementary School.
All but one of the girls had to face Arnold Cowen, whose preliminary hearing continues Tuesday in Noble County District Court.
A police investigator who interviewed the girls is expected to take the stand.
Kay County District Judge Lee Turner will determine whether enough evidence exists to send Cowen to trial.
Cowen, 86, is charged in Noble County District Court with 18 felony counts of lewd or indecent acts with a child, two felony counts of lewd or indecent proposals and one felony count of possession of child pornography.
He is accused in the charge of inappropriately touching 10 girls ranging in age from 10 to 13.
Cowen told a police investigator “a majority of his inappropriate contacts with female students took place in a fifth-grade math class” where he was the assistant, an affidavit states.
One of the girls who took the stand Monday became visibly upset and finished her testimony
with a video screen separating her and Cowen, a volunteer who assisted students with math and reading.
Another girl with a medical condition experienced trouble breathing and received treatment during her testimony, said Cameron Spradling, the attorney representing six of the 10 girls who testified.
“I’m so proud of 10 brave little girls who were finally given the opportunity to tell their stories in front of the very man who sexually assaulted them, Arnold Cowen,” he said.
“Every vampire needs a keeper. Now that we’ve taken care of the vampire it is time to bring all his keepers to justice.”
Noble County District Attorney Brian Hermanson declined to comment after the hearing. Neither Cowen nor his attorney, Royce Hobbs, would speak with reporters about the case.
Upper Elementary Principal Kenda Miller and math teacher Jeffrey Sullins are accused of failing to promptly report accusations against Cowen and face misdemeanor charges in the case.
Both have resigned, effective June 30.
In police interviews, Miller, 51, portrayed Cowen “to be of great moral character.” Sullins, 51, said Cowen was a “model instructor.”
Both said they didn’t report the allegations to law enforcement, the Department of Human Services or parents because they believed the girls were lying, police reported.
In addition to media members, Spradling, Miller’s attorney and an attorney for the school district were barred from the courtroom by the judge.
Only parents of those testifying were allowed in the courtroom. One of the girls didn’t feel comfortable testifying in front of her mother and asked her friend’s mom to sit in the courtroom.
“We’re there for each other,” one of the mothers said after the girl’s testimony. It is the policy of The
Oklahoman not to disclose the name of alleged victims of sexual abuse, which is why the parents quoted in this story are
not identified.
Superintendent resigns
Down the street from the courthouse, school board members accepted the resignation of suspended Superintendent Scott Chenoweth on Monday night, effective immediately.
The board also approved a resignation agreement with Chenoweth that will pay him a lump sum of $76,042.
Chenoweth was suspended by the school board without explanation on Feb. 13 and was being paid a monthly salary of $8,800.
Panel members declined to comment, but a news release provided by a firm handling the district’s public relations said Chenoweth “has elected to resign his position with the district to pursue other ventures.”
“We hope this agreement demonstrates our commitment to moving forward,” board President Jason Proctor says in the statement.
Chenoweth has not been charged with a crime.
A search for Chenoweth’s successor will begin immediately, officials said.