By Katie Banning
The trial of a Boundary County woman accused of two counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16 in underway in Bonner County.
On February 5, 2025, the two victims in the cases came forward to Bonners Ferry Chief of Police Willie Cowell with allegations of sexual abuse and before day’s end, Richard Cowell III and Katherine Cowell, husband and wife, were taken into custody. Due to a conflict of interest, the couple were transferred to Bonner County Detention, where they have been held since their arrest.
Fast forward more than one year, three continuances and Richard Cowell III taking a plea deal after an Alford Plea for a similar crime, and Katherine Cowell sits in a courtroom in front of a jury of her peers who will decide her fate.
In November, her husband was sentenced to 17 years fixed with five indeterminate for charges of criminal conspiracy and lewd conduct with a child under 16 and is awaiting transport to the Idaho Department of Corrections.
The trial is set to last five days, but the prosecution is hoping to finish closing arguments on Wednesday.
