Cowan’s ex-wife, Mary Miller, has also been charged in the case. She faces three counts of permitting child abuse and five counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree.
RELATED: NC Pastor Charged With Sexual Exploitation of a Minor Following 2-Month Investigation
The couple’s divorce was finalized in September. Miller has since remarried.
According to an affidavit, Miller admitted to investigators that she knew about Cowan’s crimes against their children. She was still married to Cowan at the time of this admission.
Miller told law enforcement officials that she confronted Cowan after her children told her that Cowan had raped them and that Cowan confessed. Miller then said that she had planned to call law enforcement but then suffered a seizure in the laundry room of her home. She made no subsequent efforts to contact authorities.
“Mary [Miller] recklessly failed to take action to prevent further abuse of minor children whom she was the guardian of,” the affidavit said. “The evidence in this case consisted of deviating sexual activity by admission of the suspect.”
Miller remains in custody on $75,000 bail. Her trial is scheduled for March 10.
RELATED: Former Youth Pastor Charged With Nearly 150 Sex Crimes Related to Voyeurism
ChurchLeaders was not able to obtain contact information for Little River Community Church. It is unclear if the church remains in existence.
