Man with nearly 100 arrests accused of sexually assaulting runaway teen

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — A Wichita Falls man with nearly 100 arrests since the mid-1980s is now jailed after a 16-year-old runaway came forward with information about alleged sexual acts committed on it in February and March 2024.

Adrian Larone McGowan Sr., 57, is charged with sexual assault of a child and two counts of possession of child pornography. He is jailed on $250,000 bail.

According to arrest records, a Wichita Falls police officer was already investigating an alleged sexual assault of the girl by another suspect in May when he became aware of the separate allegations against McGowan.

That information came during forensic interviews of the girl while she was receiving treatment and counseling at a drug rehab center in Cleburne.

She came forward with allegations of multiple instances of sexual acts by McGowan at an apartment at Sun Valley Apartments.

She said she ran away in February and was looking at a friend's apartment when McGowan came to her and asked if she needed help and told her she could stay in his appartment. She said that while they stayed with him in an apartment he shared with his mother, they did drugs and would have sex in the living room while his mother slept.

She said he gave her drugs – marijuana and cocaine – in exchange for sex, also recorded sex acts and told her that if she ever left him, he would share the videos with other people.

After receiving information from the interviews in Cleburne, Wichita Falls police went to Sun Valley Apartments and found the apartment described by the girl. They said McGowan opened the door and invited them inside.

Officers said an air mattress on the living room floor matched the girl's description.

When asked about a runaway staying there, officers said McGowan said he knew exactly who they were talking about and that she had been asked to stay there for a few days by her mother and denied having had sex with her or used drugs with her.

McGowan said the girl once told him she was 28 and another time that she was 19. Police obtained a search warrant for the apartment and seized several cell phones as well as a consent form from McGowan to search the phones.

Officers said a search of a phone revealed videos of the victim and McGowan engaging in sexual acts as well as photos of the two in the apartment.

McGowan's arrest record dates back to 1986 and includes numerous arrests for assault and domestic violence, probation violations, contempt of court and pending federal indictment.