His mother and the girl’s mother also face felony charges connected to the active Pearl River County investigation.
POPLARVILLE, Miss. — A 27-year-old Mississippi man remains jailed without bond after authorities accused him of sexually abusing and impregnating a girl who was 13 while she lived with his family, according to the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office and court records reported by WLOX.
Dawson James Brown was arrested July 17 on one count of statutory rape, two counts of sexual battery and one count of human trafficking. His mother, 54-year-old Sabrina Brown, was arrested the same day on charges of conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, attempted tampering with physical evidence and felony child neglect. The girl’s mother, 32-year-old Kendrell Bowden, was arrested later on human trafficking and child-neglect-related charges. The accusations have not been proven in court.
The sheriff’s office began investigating after receiving a June 30 referral from the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services. The referral followed an anonymous report that a 14-year-old girl was pregnant. Investigators said the girl had been living with the Brown family when the alleged abuse occurred. They estimate she became pregnant in October or November 2025, when she was 13.
Sabrina Brown is the wife of a pastor at New Heights/College Heights Baptist Church in Poplarville, and Dawson Brown is their son, the sheriff’s office confirmed. Authorities have not accused the church of a crime. Investigators also said they were examining an unconfirmed report that a baby shower for the girl may have been held at the church.
Investigators searched Dawson Brown’s phone during the inquiry, according to court records obtained by WLOX. The records allege that authorities found images and videos documenting sexual activity involving the child. Investigators also reported finding electronic messages discussing the pregnancy and identifying Brown as the unborn child’s father.
Bowden initially told investigators that she learned about the pregnancy when her daughter asked to return home, court records said. She allegedly said the girl would not identify the father. During a second interview, Bowden told investigators that she had withheld information because she was afraid and that Dawson Brown had acknowledged being the father, according to the records.
Authorities allege Bowden knew about the relationship but continued allowing Brown to contact her daughter and did not report the matter to law enforcement or child protection officials. Court documents also allege that Brown gave Bowden money, took her to a Mississippi State sporting event, allowed her to use his vehicle and provided other favors after revealing his involvement in the pregnancy.
Investigators further allege that Brown discussed taking the girl to Alabama and that Bowden was willing to allow the trip. Those claims are part of the evidence cited in support of Bowden’s human trafficking charge. She received a $150,000 bond on that charge and a $10,000 bond on the charge of contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child.
Sabrina Brown is accused of trying to interfere with the investigation by directing the girl to provide false information about DNA evidence. Court records allege that messages between mother and son appeared to show Sabrina Brown attempting to instruct the child on fabricating a DNA-related document. She posted a $10,000 bond and was released from jail.
Dawson Brown appeared in Pearl River County Justice Court for a preliminary hearing July 22. A judge upheld the decision to deny him bond after prosecutors cited a message he allegedly sent to Bowden asking whether she believed he needed to leave the country. The court treated the alleged message as evidence that Brown could pose a flight risk.
Prosecutors said during the hearing that the girl was expected to give birth soon and that a DNA test would be conducted afterward to determine paternity. Until those results are available, authorities’ statements identifying Brown as the alleged father remain part of the pending investigation rather than a final court finding.
The sheriff’s office has asked the public not to identify the girl or circulate information that could reveal her identity. Investigators said the case remains active and that additional arrests are possible. Public reporting reviewed for this article did not establish whether the three defendants had entered pleas or retained attorneys.
Author note: Last updated July 27, 2026.