ROCKINGHAM — A man is in the Richmond County Jail accused of sexually abusing a child for more than a decade.
According to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, a report was filed on April 24, with the victim accusing 49-year-old Johnny Buck Cowick III, of Rockingham, of sexual abuse and assault that occurred over an 11-year period.
Cowick was arrested April 27 and charged with: rape of a child; incest child 13-15 years of age; crime against nature; first-degree sexual offense; taking indecent liberties with a child; and incest of child less than 13, older than 4.
State law includes stepchildren under the incest statute and crimes against nature include anal and oral intercourse.
He was booked into the Richmond County Jail where he is being held on a $750,000 secured bond. Jail records show his court date as May 4.
Records with the N.C. Department of Adult Correction show Cowick was convicted of assault inflicting serious injury in 2001 and driving while impaired the previous year.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
