Judge cuts bail for the Rev. McCowan, who is charged in theftBy Raul Hernandez
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A judge Monday ordered a bail reduction for the 49-year-old pastor of Solid Rock Christian Center in Ventura, who is facing theft and embezzlement charges.
Alonzo Gene McCowan, known as the Rev. Lonnie McCowan, and his wife, Kimberly Ann Oglesby McCowan, of Camarillo pleaded not guilty Monday as they formally heard the charges against them at their arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court.
They were arrested Thursday on suspicion of duping now 86-year-old Leo Gilmond into signing over the deed to his Ventura home in October 2004.
Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark on Monday reduced Lonnie McCowan’s bail from $500,000 to $70,000, despite opposition from prosecutor Miles Weiss. Kimberly McCowan, 45, is free on $40,000 bail.
Lonnie McCowan was charged with two counts of theft from an elderly person and two counts of money laundering in an amount that surpassed $500,000. His wife was charged with one count of grand theft and one count of money laundering.
In voicing his opposition to the bail reduction, Weiss told the court that Lonnie McCowan was a potential flight risk because of the seriousness of the crimes, for which he could be facing as much as 15 years in prison. Weiss told the judge that Lonnie McCowan abused his position of trust as a pastor by committing a crime against an elderly victim, Gilmond.
Lonnie McCowan’s attorney, Ron Bamieh, said the case “is much ado about not a whole lot,” adding that Gilmond’s lawsuit against the McCowans was settled last year with Gilmond getting monetary compensation.
“Now, they are taking a civil case and trying to make it a criminal case, and that will be the fight we have in the next few months,” Bamieh said. He said $500,000 bail was excessive.
Bamieh, whose clients include The Star, said Lonnie McCowan has been a county resident for 40 years and has no criminal record.
The courtroom, which seats 55 people, was packed. More than 70 people showed up in court to support the couple.
Applause and cheers were heard outside the courtroom after Kimberly McCowan left the court and word of the bail reduction reached those waiting in the hallway.
In an interview, Weiss repeated what he told the judge in court, that more charges could be forthcoming.
“Our investigation is ongoing and is potentially wide-ranging,” Weiss said in the interview, adding that new charges could include state and federal tax charges.
Weiss also told the court that a search warrant was executed Friday at the McCowan residence and Solid Rock Christian Center, and more than three dozen boxes of potential evidence were seized.
In a written statement issued Friday, prosecutors appealed to the public for any information that could be pertinent in the McCowan case. Weiss said prosecutors want information on other potential witnesses or victims.
Bamieh said Weiss has been “soliciting for other victims” for more than a year, yet only has one alleged victim, Gilmond.
Weiss replied that Bamieh’s remark about a one-year solicitation of victims is a “mischaracterization” of the investigation.
According to an affidavit filed by Frank Huber, investigating officer for the District Attorney’s Office, McCowan told Gilmond that the Ventura home would be used as a rental for church dignitaries and students. In exchange, McCowan told Gilmond he would pay him $460,000. Records show the McCowans made installment payments totaling $10,000 and a payment of $450,000 was due in January 2008. The home eventually went into foreclosure, which Gilmond discovered when he tried to collect the $450,000 payment.
According to the affidavit, the McCowans took out a loan and withdrew $420,000 in equity by refinancing the property in Kimberly McCowan’s name.
© 2009 Ventura County Star
