Chester Bowles, 41, of Alma, plead guilty to rape and sexual assault charges Tuesday afternoon in Crawford County Circuit afternoon and was sentenced to 25 years in prison plus 20 years suspended by Judge Gary Cottrell.
By the terms of the plea agreement, Bowles will have to serve a minimum of 17½ years in prison before becoming parole eligible. In addition, he will have to complete the sexual offender program while in prison.
Bowles engaged in sexual contact and digital penetration with minor females.
According to the information sheets filed with the circuit court in the case, Bowles was charged with three counts of felony rape and three counts of sexual assault in the second degree (with persons less that 14 years of age). The criminal acts occurred between January 1 and July 13 of 2015.
Bowles is currently in the Crawford County jail waiting to be transported to the department of corrections to serve his 25 year sentence.
Crawford County prosecutor March McCune said the victims were agreeable and approved of this disposition.