Jim Thorpe man given long state prison term for sexual assaults

Telling the defendant his acts “have broken a family,” a Carbon Count judge on Tuesday sentenced a Jim Thorpe man to serve 16 to 35 years in a state correctional institution for sexual assault of two young boys.

Judge Steven R. Serfass also rejected a request by Kevin W. Gowrie’s attorney to impose a 8- to 16-year state prison term, saying that was sufficient time for the punishment his client deserves.

Serfass said what Gowrie, 43, did in the case was “disgusting.” He added, “The family will never be the same.”

Gowrie previously pleaded guilty to one count each of rape of a child, rape by forcible compulsion, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault (involving a then 12-year-old) and in a second case with the older victim (then 16), he pleaded to corruption of a minor.

Gowrie was originally charged with 76 counts for incidents involving the then-12-year-old boy at his residence in the borough. He also admitted sexually assaulting the then-16-year-old boy in Penn Forest Township in another incident.

The mother of the younger boy said he has struggled with what had happened to him. She said he became angry and lashed out at family members. He also became depressed to the point that he attempted suicide on more than one occasion.

She said he is currently in a residential facility in Berks County since last August receiving counseling for the trauma he has endured and having a hard time handling. She said that her son has made strides in getting stronger and she hopes that he will be able to come back home soon.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Gazo, who prosecuted the case, asked Serfass to double the maximum term of any sentence he imposed, calling it a “very serious” case and one of many of that type that are coming before the county court. He said that the incidents affected the younger victim “tremendously.” He added, “This is something the victim will never forget.”

Gowrie’s attorney, Elliott Cohen, said of his client, “He knows what he did was awful.”

He said Gowrie is “completely alone” now because he lost his wife and family, and no family members came to the proceeding in his support. He also said at the time of the incidents his client was abusing alcohol and drugs, which may have contributed to what he did.

Gowrie said, “I did a lot of damage to everyone in this.”

On the charges pertaining to the first victim, Serfass imposed a total sentence of 15 to 30 years. On the second case, he imposed a term of 12 to 60 months, consecutive to the first, for the total of 16 to 35 years.

Police say there were at least four alleged assaults, which all occurred at Gowrie’s home. Gowrie allegedly raped the victim and forced him to perform sex acts. He also threatened him through social media, allegedly writing, “I know where you live, I know where you sleep.”

At the plea proceeding last year Gazo read from the police report, prepared by investigating officer Detective Lee Marzen of the borough police. Gazo said Gowrie threatened to “hurt and kill” the victims if they told anyone.

The plea hearing was actually the second appearance by Gowrie to enter a plea. On Sept. 1, 2017, he was scheduled to enter a plea to the charges before Serfass but changed his mind. At that proceeding, Cohen, of Philadelphia, said that Gowrie believes he is innocent of the charges against him. Cohen said that he advised against the decision to go to trial, rather accepting a plea deal from prosecutors.

But on Sept. 26, 2017, Gowrie again appeared before Serfass and entered a guilty plea to the charges.

In addition to the prison term, Serfass ordered Gowrie to submit to a sexual offender evaluation, have no contact with the victims or their families, have no unsupervised contact with any minors, supply a DNA sample, get a drug and alcohol evaluation, make restitution of $1,000 to the victims assistance board and pay court costs of about $1,000.

The charges fall under Megan’s Law, which means Gowrie must register for life as a sexual offender when he is released from custody.

Gowrie was given credit for 518 days spent in prison to date on the charges.