BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — Richard Cowell III has been sentenced to 17 years in prison as part of a plea deal for sex offenses with minors.
Cowell and his wife, Katherine, were both arrested in February and accused of having sexual contact with a person between in ages of 14-16 between 2012 and 2015.
The two were turned in by Richard’s brother, Bonners Ferry Police Chief Willie Cowell.
On Thursday, Richard entered into an Alford plea which changed his original rape charge into lewd conduct including coercion of minors into sexual acts.
He will serve a fixed term of 17 years plus five years indeterminate.
The Boundary County Sheriff’s Office says Katherine’s trial is scheduled for December.
Richard and Katherine operated a day care in Bonners Ferry, Little Zoo Keepers. The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office shows the business license is still active.
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