Cody Fowler to Serve 7 Years for 2nd Degree Rape

FREDERICK – Today, Cody Fowler, 23, of Thurmont, MD, was sentenced for the offense of Second Degree Rape.  The Honorable Julia Martz-Fisher imposed 20 years in the Division of Corrections, and suspended all but 7 years of active incarceration.  Fowler was also ordered to serve 5 years of supervised probation upon his release, with conditions including completion of a sexual offenders treatment program.  The Defendant will also be a registered sexual offender for life.

The Defendant was convicted of the offense on January 29, 2018, after a 5 day jury trial.  The jury deliberated for about three hours before returning a guilty verdict for the sole count of Second Degree Rape.

The offense occurred on October 28, 2016, during a small party at a private residence in Jefferson, MD. The victim had become voluntarily intoxicated and reported having no memory of events for several hours. When she awoke she was experiencing significant pain and injury to her genitalia. A sexual assault examination at Frederick Memorial Hospital confirmed those injuries were a result of penetration and trauma.  Forensic DNA tests implicated the Defendant Fowler.   During the investigation, however, the Defendant told the detective that he did not have any sexual contact with the victim.  In sentencing the Defendant, J. Martz-Fisher told him that the blame for his conduct was his alone, and dismissed any implication that the victim was in any way responsible for the assault.

The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Lindy Angel.