Child Sex Abuse: Alabama Pastor Receives Over 1,000 Year Sentence For Abusing 6 Teenagers

An Alabama youth pastor has been handed the maximum sentence for a litany of child sex abuse charges. Evangelist Paul Acton Bowen, 39, was sentenced Friday to 1,008 years in prison and to pay a $840,000 fine for sexually abusing six teenagers, the sum of the steepest sentences possible for each charge.

He is set to serve all of his sentences consecutively, not concurrently.

Bowen pleaded guilty to 28 sexual abuse charges in Etowah County, Alabama, involving six young boys, ages 13 to 16. Some of the charges leveled against him included enticing a child for a sexual act, sodomy, traveling to meet a child for a sexual act and sexual abuse.

Several county judges had recused themselves from the case due to a past relationship of Bowen’s, as his ex-wife is the daughter of a judge from the county. Circuit Judge Debra Jones ended up presiding over the case.

Bowen is also facing three charges in nearby Jefferson County for traveling to meet a child for sex, enticing a child for a sexual act and sodomy. The trial for these charges is currently scheduled for April 20. Should Bowen be released from prison in his lifetime, he will be listed as a violent sexual predator.

Facing the families of his victims in court before his sentencing, Bowen expressed remorse for his crimes.

“The shame and guilt I feel is overwhelming and has been for a long time,” Bowen said. “My heart was never wanting to hurt anybody but my mind was not well.”

Prior to his arrest, Bowen ran his own youth ministry and traveled the country to speak at different youth events. Victims claimed to have been abused both in Alabama and on the road during these travels. Some victims alleged that his abuse lasted months and even years.