LOWERS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

(07/04/2008)

A 68-year-old Chloe man, Howard "Sonny" Lowers (left) has been found not guilty for sexually assaulting a Minnora, Calhoun woman. The victim had claimed Lowers entered her house and forced sex upon her. After brief deliberation by a Calhoun Jury Wednesday, the well-known emergency services volunteer and bluegrass musician, was declared not guilty. Lowers had been arrested in 2007 by Cpl. Doug Starcher of the West Virginia State Police, after the woman said Lowers had assaulted her in her residence. He was then charged with sexual assault in the second degree. Jurors heard graphic testimony about the case, being tried before Judge David Nibert. Sexual assault in the second degree indicates sexual intrusion with another person without the person's consent, generally identified as forcible compulsion. The crime, if the person is found guilty, has a maximum penalty of 10-25 years in prison with a possible fine of $1,000-$10,000. Lowers had been released on $10,000 bond.

Hur Herald ®from Sunny Cal The information on these pages, to the extent the law allows, remains the exclusive property of Bob Weaver and Dianne Weaver The Hur Herald. All information may be freely used but must not be sold or used in any type of commercial endeavor, or used on any web site without the express permission of the owners ©Bob and Dianne Weaver, The Hur Herald, 1999, 2000, 2001