An El Dorado County man who law enforcement officials believe has sexually abused children for more than two decades was arrested last week for the second time in as many months and is facing more than 70 charges related to sex acts with minors.
Joshua John Bowen, 47, pleaded not guilty to a total of 74 charges during his arraignment Monday, El Dorado Superior Court records show. He is being held without bail after being arrested Friday in the 8600 block of Mosquito Road.
An investigation into his alleged conduct began in 2022, Placerville police said in a news release.
Investigators were executing a search warrant to investigate Bowen’s home when they recovered his electronic devices, the police news release said.
“During an in-depth analysis of the seized electronics, investigators discovered additional individuals who investigators had probable cause to believe were victims of Bowen during their childhood,” police said online. “It was discovered that Bowen may have been sexually abusing minors for at least 20 years.”
Officers began investigating Bowen in December 2022 after he allegedly tried to meet the child to engage in sexual activity, police said. He was arrested, but then released.
It is unclear why Bowen was released or whether he posted bail. But he was arrested twice more this year after a man came forward last month claiming he may have been victimized by Bowen as a child, police said. El Dorado Superior Court records show Bowen was released from jail after posting $500,000 bail following his arrest last month.
In total, Bowen faces the following 74 charges, all felonies: 32 counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child 14 or 15 years old; 24 counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14; four counts of oral copulation with victims under 18; four counts of arranging to meet a child; four counts of oral copulation with a child; two counts of contacting a child for sex; and one count each of stalking, oral copulation with force, violence, coercion, threat and fear, attempted sodomy with a child and transmitting child pornography with intent to entice a minor.
Court records show some allegations date back to 1998. The total number of alleged victims was not immediately clear.
“The Placerville Police Department would like to remind parents and guardians that social media is the most common medium used by sexual predators for this type of activity,” police said online.
The investigation into Bowen is still ongoing. He is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing on July 19.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Placerville Police Department at 530-642-5210.
