Former Concord teacher avoids prison, sentenced to community corrections in child solicitation case

ELKHART COUNTY, Ind. - A former Concord High School teacher was sentenced to 15 years at the Indiana Department of Correction on Monday but will avoid prison time for his charges, according to the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office.

The court ordered Andrew Cowells to serve nine of those 15 years on community corrections while the remaining six will be suspended and served on reporting probation.

If he violates the terms of his sentence, he’ll be ordered to serve prison time, according to the court.

Those terms include completing sex offender treatment, registering as a sex offender, getting mental health treatment, abiding by sex offender probation terms and paying restitution to the victims.

The state said, “Cowells’ offenses were grooming behavior and that he is a child predator, taking advantage of vulnerable teenagers by trying to be the ‘cool teacher’ and connect with them. However, Cowells was a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ and should not be in a position of trust with children in the future.”

In 2021, Cowells was accused of inappropriate actions toward students, including ordering a student to “grind” him, and watching a student urinate, according to the probable cause affidavit.