A former Arkansas pastor has been sentenced to 50 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to three counts of raping his own minor children.

James Edwin Cowan, 46, will also serve 30 years of a suspended sentence after his release from prison, according to the Arkansas Southwest Judicial District prosecuting attorney, Jana Bradford. He must serve 35 years before he can be considered for parole.

According to court documents obtained by the Arkansas Justice Project, Cowan was charged with 28 counts of raping children and his trial was scheduled to begin on November 18. The children were said to be younger than 14.

He was the former pastor of Little River Community Church in Winthrop, Arkansas.

The prosecuting attorney said that Cowan will also have to register as a sex offender when he is released from prison.

“While no sentence can undo the harm done to these young victims, we hope this will provide a measure of justice and allow them to begin the long process of healing,” Bradford said.

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[Featured image: James Cowan/Facebook]