UPDATE 02.23.11: McGowan's case has been continued for April 8th as Judge James Ginocchi was unavailable today.

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An anti-immigrant activist, co-founder of Greater Danbury's infamous hate group, and former mayoral candidate is scheduled to appear in state superior court in Litchfield tomorrow morning to face a first degree sexual assault charge.

John McGowan is no stranger to readers on this site as well as those in Danbury who had to endure his racist antics towards immigrants the area. For those new to the site, here's a brief flashback of McGowan's more interesting moments:

Here's McGowan (in an Uncle Sam outfit) harassing marchers and desecrating a Mexican Flag during an immigrants rights march held on Main Street back in 2006.



Here's McGowan advocating that residents shoot day laborers at Kennedy Park (1:26 into video).



McGowan, the former treasurer of the Greater Danbury chapter of the Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control, co-founder/Vice President of Elise Marciano's United States Citizens for Immigration and Law Enforcement hate-group, and 2007 candidate for mayor, was charged with first degree sexual assault as a result of an investigation by the New Milford Police Department.

Here's the details on McGowan's alleged crime from the News-Times:

In the 13-page affidavit, the woman describes a variety of sexual encounters to which she consented, but she claimed that on Oct. 20, 2008, after attending a meeting at McGowan's church, he assaulted her anally at a house he was building on Juniper Road in New Milford.

The woman told police she said, "What are you doing?" and "Stop," but McGowan instead "put his right arm around her neck and put her in a headlock," according to the affidavit.

After speaking with counselors at the women's shelter in Danbury, the victim went to New Milford Hospital on Oct. 22 and hospital personnel called police, according to the affidavit.

...the police report’s write-up on the incident is more graphic.

…he [McGowan] pushed his penis into her anus. When he did this, Victim stated that she asked "What are you doing" and "Stop." Victim states that she arched her back as she initially struggled to to get him out of her. When she did this, McGowan put his right arm around her neck and put her in a headlock.

The case has gained quite a bit of attention not only because of the charges agaisnt McGowan, but also for the anti-immigrant activist's bizarre behavior in court.

Each time McGowan appeared in the case, he claimed the court did not have “jurisdiction” over him “as a natural man.” McGowan’s insistence in his “personal sovereignty” prompted Judge James Ginocchio to order a competency evaluation in September.

[...]

McGowan argued the court should dismiss the state’s case against him because it had no jurisdiction over him, but Assistant State’s Attorney Dawn Gallo argued McGowan’s claims were based on civil and federal law, not criminal law. Ginocchio agreed and denied McGowan’s motion.

Recognized as one top 10 crimes of 2009 by the Danbury News-Times, as well as highlighted several hate-group monitoring organization such as The the Southern Poverty Law Center, McGowan's case is scheduled to move towards to the jury selection phase, but given his bizarre antics in court to date, anything can happen.

Thus far, McGowan's laughable use of pseudolaw as a defense has not been a factor in the case, for the exception of slowing the pace of the trial. Hopefully, this situation will move forward towards a resolution sooner than later.

According to the CT Defense Lawyer website, a charge of first degree sexual assault is a CLASS B felony. If found guilty, the local bigot could be sentenced to 1 to 20 years in prison and fined up to 15,000 dollars.

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RELATED POSTS:

• McGowan harass marchers, desecrates Mexican flag at 2006 immigration rally



• McGowan joins racist local access personality Tom "Big T" Bennett in inciting people to harm members of the immigrant community.



• Fairfield Weekly mocks McGowan's campaign for mayor.



• Elise Marciano anti-immigrant group members applaud while speaker advocates placing immigrants in WW-II style concentration camps.



• Court trial day ten: moving forward



• Court trial day seven: Jury trial



• Court trial day six: Motions denied



• Court trial day five: Endless Endless subpoenas and bizarre motions to dismiss



• LITCHFIELD REGISTER-CITIZEN: Local man accused of rape is competent for trial
  
  
• NEWS-TIMES: McGowan found competent to stand trial in New Milford rape case



• Court trial day two: Excuses, excuses



• Court trial day one: Strange behavior, disturbing arrest warrant affidavit



• McGowan arrested, charged with first-degree sexual assault