Evangelist arrested for child sex abuse is still trying to manipulate his victims from jail: authorities

A 39-year-old Alabama pastor in jail for allegedly engaging in sex acts with victims ages 13-16 is still in contact with his victims, according to authorities.

WBRC reports that Paul Action Bowen, formerly an evangelical religious leader in the community, is trying to manipulate his victims, possibly to talk them out of testifying against him.

“The contents of the messages clearly indicate an intent to influence the victim’s feelings, and potentially his testimony, regarding these cases and the defendant, and to discourage the victim from cooperating with prosecution of this case,” said Etowah County Deputy District Attorney Carol Griffith in a court filing obtained by WBRC.

“The state contends that all crime victims should be protected from harassment or intimidation by a defendant pending trial, no matter what the charges are, but even more so in cases involving physical or sexual abuse of a child," Griffith continued.

"The only way to ensure that the Defendant cannot continue to contact the victims in these cases is to order the ECDC to limit his ability to communicate with persons outside the Etowah County Detention Center where he remains in custody," she continued.

"The undersigned has been assured by jail administrators that upon Order of the Court, Defendant’s access to email, text messages, and telephone can be limited."