Courtney Cowins, the alleged suspect in a brutal rape and beating of an East side Madison resident in 2006, has been charged with first-degree sexual assault based on evidence police say they had all along.
According to Channel 3000, the evidence used to convict Cowins to his December 2006 crime was mistakenly left off the list of evidence to be sent to the crime lab. However, the underwear of the victim possessed DNA which matched that of Cowins.
Cpt. Tom Snyder of the Madison Police Department said the mistake was simply a clerical error.
It was not included on the initial property list but it was included within the narrative of a police report, so unfortunately it wasn't noted at the time,"" he said. ""It was just a matter of finding it within a narrative of a police report and that's what happened.""
In addition to being charged with four counts of first-degree sexual assault, Cowins also faces charges of burglary, battery and recklessly endangering safety.
Cash bail for Cowins was set at $70,000. His preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 19.
Residents of the Jana Lane neighborhood, the area where the crime occurred, are just happy to see Cowins behind bars after allegedly committing such a violent crime.
""The whole district is relieved he has been apprehended now and is off the street,"" Ald. Joe Clausius, District 17, said. ""This really frightened everyone, this whole invasion that happened.""
According to a recent crime report by the FBI, overall crime throughout Madison in 2008 went down 1.9 percent compared to 2007, but violent crime increased by about 6 percent.
