Bowen Turner case: Serial rapist, 19, gets PROBATION despite multiple assault allegations
Serial rapist Bowen Turner has been accused of raping three women but convicted only of attacking one. The 19-year-old has sparked outrage after being able to avoid a jail sentence. Despite the multiple rape allegations and the constant violation of his bond conditions, he was sentenced to five years of probation.
On Friday, April 8, Turner pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and battery. He was ultimately convicted of assault and battery and given probation because he was a juvenile at the time of the attack. His father, Walt Turner works as an investigator for South Carolina's first circuit solicitor, David Pascoe. Users have mused that it was his power and connections that led to his son getting let off easily, along with a case of white privilege.
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The victims deserve our time and attention.
— Mandy Matney (@MandyMatney) April 12, 2022
Especially considering the two largest newspapers in SC -- The State Newspaper and the Post and Courier -- have printed NOTHING about the Bowen Turner case.
Perhaps because it involves the Good Ole Boys they so often protect.
Multiple rape cases against Turner
Turner admitted to assaulting Chloe Bess, a pastor's daughter, in 2019. Bess revealed she was raped by Turner at a pond house party and said at the press conference after the sentencing, "I'm extremely disappointed. I feel like no matter what we say, it falls on deaf ears. This feels defeating but I will not be defeated."
She told officers that Turner pulled her behind a truck, put her on the ground, and pulled her shirt down, exposing her bra. He then pulled her pants and underwear off while he "forced himself sexually" on her. Chloe's father, Darren Bess said, "What we need to do moving forward [is] to continue to be a voice for victims across the state of South Carolina who seemingly have no voice," reports WCSC.
Turner's rape attack on Bess came after he was already on bond for raping and beating 18-year-old Dallas Stoller while she was intoxicated in October 2018. Before Turner could be tried on her allegations, she suddenly died in November 2021. Bamberg County dismissed the first-degree sexual assault and battery charges against Turner after her death. "Dallas attended a party in Bamberg County. She was brought home from the party heavily intoxicated and would ultimately be found to be sexually assaulted later that night," her father, Karl Stoller told the court.
"She made the difficult decision to move forward with the case, all the while knowing because of who her alleged attacker was, she would be a target of personal attacks and insults in the community," he added. "The fact that the defendant is going to walk free today and our sister is never going to walk the earth again. We feel like not only her voice was stolen but ours too," said Brette Tabatabai, Stoller's sister.
The third rape charge against Turner was from a victim in Calhoun County. The SC Law Enforcement Division did not proceed with criminal charges, and the case was later dropped, with no details or reasons revealed. Since Turner was sentenced as a juvenile, he will not have to register as a sex offender unless he commits another assault within five years. He managed to walk free despite repeatedly violating the terms of his house arrest while awaiting trial, as per reports.
On Friday, Turner was sentenced to 5 years probation.
— Mandy Matney (@MandyMatney) April 12, 2022
Even after he violated his bond conditions dozens of times.
He won’t be required to register as a sex offender.
Oh, and his attorney @BradHutto is a powerful state senator. https://t.co/3cvBLKpTxI
Turner breached and violated his bond conditions by indulging in golf, visiting a Brazilian steakhouse, and traveling out of state to visit a car showroom in Georgia. "There have been issue after issue with this case. He's ignored court order after court order and his victims have been told to just sit and endure," revealed Sarah Ford, the victims' lawyer.
"The victims deserve justice and accountability and so far there’s not a whole lot of that in these cases. We shouldn't allow folks with power and privilege to determine what justice looks like for them; the system should decide that and hold everyone accountable equally, period," she told The Times and Democrat.