Jury recommends 20 years in person in sexual abuse case
COVINGTON, Ky. — In the fourth criminal case in Kenton County since trials resumed in August, a jury found Clifford Howell guilty of six counts of First Degree Sexual Abuse involving two child victims. After the sentencing phase of the trial, the same jury then recommended Howell serve twenty years in prison, the maximum under Kentucky law. Howell will be required to complete sex offender treatment before being eligible for parole. He is also required to register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life.
The case began on July 4, 2018, when the Covington Police Department received a report of a sexual assault from a child victim who knew her attacker, Clifford Howell. Det. Adam Uhl was assigned to investigate. During the course of the investigation, two juvenile females disclosed Howell sexually assaulted them on multiple occasions. Det. Uhl arranged for a phone call between one of the victims and Howell, unbeknownst to Howell. In the call, Howell apologized and acknowledged sexual conduct occurred. Howell was subsequently brought in for questioning and admitted to committing some of the sexual acts the victims described to police.
The case was indicted by the Kenton Grand Jury on September 20, 2018. On September 29, 2020, the case was called for trial before Judge Kathleen Lape in the First Division of the Kenton Circuit Court. The Commonwealth was represented by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorneys Maria Schletker and Kate Homan. The two victims testified regarding the sexual acts Howell perpetrated upon them. The Commonwealth also presented the testimony of Sgt. Justin Bradbury, Det. Adam Uhl, and Dr. Kathi Makoroff. Through the testimony of the officers, the jury was presented with statements made by Howell during the controlled calls and in his interview.
At the conclusion of three days of testimony on October 1, 2020, the jury found Howell guilty of six counts of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. On October 2, 2020, the jury recommended a sentence of 20 years to serve. Howell will appear again before Judge Lape, for formal, final sentencing date of December 8, 2020, at 9 a.m. Upon release from prison, Howell will be required to register as a sexual offender for the remainder of his life.
Posted on Tuesday, October 6th, 2020 @ 3:27PM
Categories: Blog
