Pocatello man arrested, accused of sexually assaulting teen at party
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POCATELLO — A Pocatello man has been arrested and is facing several charges after police say he sexually assaulted a teenage girl at a house party in April.
Kaumba Isubilo Chowa, 23, is charged with one felony count of sexual battery of a minor–lewd contact, one felony count of sexual battery of a minor–soliciting, one felony count of forcible penetration by use of a foreign object, and one misdemeanor count of dispensing alcohol to a minor.
Court documents state that Chowa, the alleged victim, and others were together at a house party in Pocatello on April 4. In an Oct. 1 forensic interview, the teen girl told law enforcement that she and her boyfriend had arrived at the party together after picking up Chowa at a gas station.
According to statements from the teen and witnesses, alcohol and marijuana were present at the party.
At some point, the teen told police her boyfriend left to go hang out with other friends. She was left sitting on one side of an L-shaped couch in the basement while Chowa slept on the other end, according to the documents.
She told police that another of her friends went upstairs to make mozzarella sticks, and she was left alone with Chowa and a third friend — who was allegedly passed out in a recliner alone — in the basement. It was at that point, court documents state, that she said Chowa woke up and started making suggestive comments to her like, “I just want to get a taste of you.”
The teen said she told Chowa no, but said Chowa picked her up and sat down on the couch again with her on his lap. She said Chowa then restrained her and tried to kiss her; when she resisted, she said Chowa sexually assaulted her.
She said she tried to get away but could not escape Chowa’s grip, according to the documents.
She and other witnesses told police the alleged attack stopped when the teen’s friend came back downstairs and asked what was going on. The witnesses said Chowa began repeating the phrase “I got to go” and left the house.
The teen girl’s boyfriend was called to come pick her up, and she says she initially tried to ignore and forget about what had happened, according to the documents.
However, police say the teen told them that she began suffering significant emotional trauma and she sought out medical help. She reported the alleged assault to medical care workers, who then reported her story to police.
Court documents say several individuals interviewed by police said that Chowa had made them uncomfortable at the party, and they remembered thinking it was odd that he was associating with individuals under the age of 18. The individuals also claimed Chowa had supplied alcohol to the minors, but they were unsure whether he had been given money to buy alcohol on someone else’s behalf or brought alcohol on his own.
Chowa was arrested Oct. 6. If found guilty of the charges, he could face up to life in prison and may be required to pay fines of up to $150,000.
Chowa has been appointed a public defender. The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office does not comment on active cases.
Chowa is next set to appear in court on Oct. 20 for a preliminary hearing.
Although Chowa has been accused of these crimes, that does not necessarily mean he committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.