Hancock County Sheriff’s Candidate Mark Cowden Pleads Innocent
Hancock County sheriff candidate Mark Cowden pleaded innocent in federal court Thursday to one count of deprivation of rights and another count of obstruction of justice.
Cowden, 51, a former lieutenant with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly using excessive force during an arrest on Jan. 27, 2015. He’s facing up to 30 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.
“As the government press release indicated, an indictment is merely an accusation,” Cowden’s attorney, Michael Nogay, said. “Lt. Cowden spent 25 years of his life protecting the citizens of this state and his fellow officers. We very much look forward to telling our side of this at trial.”
According to the indictment, Cowden allegedly assaulted an arrest subject at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department office. Cowden then allegedly made four false statements in arrest-related paperwork and omitted two key facts.
The indictment said Cowden falsely claimed the suspect became “more agitated,” and incorrectly described the suspect as “verbally abusive/combative.” The indictment also states Cowden failed to note striking the suspect in the head and injuring the suspect.
Cowden submitted his bid for sheriff in January, and ran unopposed in the May 10 Republican primary election. Cowden’s former boss, Hancock County Sheriff Ralph Fletcher, is his Democratic opponent in November’s general election.
Pretrial motions will occur July 26. A pre-trial conference will take place on Aug. 10.
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