Homeless Woman faced Sexual Molestation; Judge Threw Perpetrator in Jail for 50 Years

Attorney Kim Ogg for Harris County said this week that a 52-year-old homeless man was given 50 years in jail for raping a homeless woman in downtown Houston in 2021.

Harold James Lowdins, who did not have a set address, was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting a homeless woman, 59, with a knife in December 2021 under the Southwest Freeway overpass near a gas station. The man went up to the woman as she was leaving the gas station. She knew Lowdins from a nearby homeless camp.

Lowdins asked the woman to have sex with him, and when she refused and tried to leave, he beat her up and raped her while holding a knife to her throat. He kept her trapped all night, threatening her with the knife and sexually assaulting her several times.

The woman was able to get away the next morning and tell an officer from the Precinct 1 Constable’s Office about what happened at a center for the homeless. After being taken to Ben Taub Hospital, she was given a sexual assault test. Lowdins was arrested after his DNA was found to match that from the exam.

Lowdins has a long criminal record that includes convictions for assault. He was facing 25 years to life in jail as a punishment. He did, however, agree to a 50-year prison term, which he cannot change.

“This defendant is not a bad person who needs a second chance.” “He has a clear history of hurting people over and over again,” Ogg said. “Cases like this are why we have specialized divisions. Our prosecutors in the Adult Sex Crimes Division can get justice for victims who are weak like this.”

Lowdins was charged by Assistant District Attorneys Steven Harris and Savana Hooper, who are both in the Adult Sex Crimes Division of the DA’s Office. They talked about how the sentence would protect the community and praised the victim for being brave enough to speak against Lowdins.

Before Lowdins can get parole, he has to serve at least half of his term.

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