Deacon arrested for child molestation charges

A Cool deacon remains in jail after he was arrested on charges of child molestation. Robert Lindsay Cowan, 65, was arrested Tuesday night on felony charges of lewd and lavicious acts with a child younger than 14 and lewd acts on a child younger than 14 using force, violence or duress. Sacramento County Sheriff's spokesman Tim Curran said Wednesday that deputies arrested Cowan at his Cool home Tuesday night. Cowan has been a deacon at the Baptist Church of Cool for the past 15 years and was also doing home bible study sessions at homes in Sacramento, where the alleged crimes occurred, Curran said. Curran said in late October, the parents of two related female victims told deputies about the alleged molestation after the victims informed them. Curran said the investigation remains open and investigators believe there are possibly other victims. Cowan, Curran said, was a long time Baptist deacon in the Sacramento area before he moved to Cool. "Considering his predominance in the church and the area, it's highly likely there are additional victims," Curran said. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective John Linke at (916) 874-5964. Cowan is being held without bail in Sacramento County Jail. He is schedule to appear in Sacramento court at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 10. Jenifer Gee can be reached at jeniferg@goldcountrymedia.com.