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KAMAS — A former South Summit Middle School teacher is accused of inappropriately touching four female students.
Rory Bowen, 35, was charged last month in 3rd District Court with aggravated sex abuse of a child, a first-degree felony. Since then, at least three more girls have come forward claiming they were also touched inappropriately by Bowen.
On May 1, three new counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child were filed against him. Prosecutors are now asking that Bowen's bail to be increased to $150,000. A bail hearing is scheduled for Monday.
Between Aug. 27, 2013, and March 21, 2014, the seventh grade math teacher touched the buttocks of four girls, ages 12 and 13, on multiple occasions over their clothing, according to charging documents. One girl reported an incident occurred in Bowen's classroom "after class when she asked him for help."
"The last incident occurred on or about March 17, 2014, just shortly before the defendant resigned," the charges state.
The three girls who came forward after the first charge was filed all reported that "they were also touched on the buttocks by the defendant on school property during school hours when they asked the defendant for help with math problems."
Bowen posted a $20,000 bail on the day he was arrested, April 10, and has been free since. But prosecutors fear that in light of the new charges — each carrying a possible sentence of 15 years to life in prison — Bowen may be prompted to flee.
"The state believes that the defendant is a flight risk, given the significant prison time he is potentially facing. The state further feels that the defendant represents a clear and present danger to young women in the community, given the allegations that have been made against him," the Summit County Attorney's Office argued in its motion.
Bowen's defense attorney, however, noted that his client has shown up to every court hearing — even when he knew the additional charges were coming — and doesn't have the finances to flee even if he wanted to. All of his family lives in the Kamas Valley, including his wife and three young children, according to court documents.
"Defendant has been instructed to surround himself with family and to completely remove himself from any situation during the pendency of this matter that could possibly be interpreted as presenting a danger to anyone in the community. There is simply no support for the contention that defendant presents a 'clear and present danger,'" Bowen's attorney wrote.
