Former Children’s Entertainer Sentenced to Decades Behind Bars for Heinous Abuse
A man who once brought smiles to children’s faces as “Boo Boo the Clown” has been handed a severe prison sentence for the horrific sexual abuse of a young girl. Bobbie Arthur Owen, 64, who performed as the beloved character in Oregon during the late 1990s and early 2000s, will spend nearly four decades behind bars.
Owen’s crimes came to light when his victim, now an adult woman, bravely came forward in 2024 to report the abuse that began when she was just 11 years old. The sheer scale of the abuse is staggering, with the survivor estimating hundreds of encounters over the years.
The Dark Turn from Clown to Abuser
For eight years, from 1994 to 2002, Owen entertained children in Springfield and Eugene, Oregon, areas located approximately 160 kilometres south of Portland. After hanging up his clown shoes, he relocated to Citrus Heights in Sacramento County, California. It was here, away from the bright lights of children’s entertainment, that his disturbing pattern of abuse began.
According to the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, Owen commenced the regular sexual abuse of a young girl shortly after his move. The abuse escalated over time, with court records detailing acts of lewdness, oral copulation, and even attempted sexual intercourse when the victim was 15 years old. The harrowing ordeal continued until the girl reached the age of 18, with intermittent breaks occurring when Owen temporarily relocated out of state for work.
A Long-Awaited Justice
The victim’s courage in reporting these crimes in 2024, more than two decades after the abuse began, ultimately led to Owen’s downfall. Following her report to Citrus Heights police, an investigation was launched, culminating in Owen’s arrest in Meridian, Idaho, a city near Boise, where he had resided since 2008.
In November 2024, a Citrus Heights detective confronted Owen at his Idaho home. Public records and court documents reveal that Owen confessed to molesting the girl for years and even discussed recent phone conversations he had with her regarding the abuse. Boise police swiftly apprehended him on a fugitive warrant, and he was subsequently extradited to Sacramento County Jail in February 2025 to face trial.
A Maximum Sentence for Heinous Crimes
Owen was held without bail throughout the legal proceedings until his recent conviction. On March 23, he was found guilty on 22 felony counts of child sexual assault. The charges encompassed a range of severe offences, including lewd acts on a child, oral copulation, and digital penetration with a foreign object.
The sentencing hearing took place on May 8, where Sacramento Superior Court Judge Deborah Lobre delivered a sentence of 39 years and four months in prison. This sentence represents the maximum penalty available for the crimes committed, reflecting the gravity of Owen’s actions. He will now be transferred to a state prison, where he is expected to remain for the rest of his life, barring extraordinary circumstances.
Owen’s professional life after his clowning career paints a stark contrast to his public persona. LinkedIn profiles indicate he worked as a contractor when the abuse began, later transitioning to roles as a truck driver and an insurance sales agent. The swiftness of the trial was notable, with a Sacramento jury taking only three days to convict him on all 22 felony charges. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child abuse and the importance of survivors coming forward to seek justice.
