The adult son of a Mississippi preacher is behind bars tonight, accused of impregnating a 13-year-old girl, and the sheriff says two women—including the teen’s own mother and the suspect’s mother—are charged with trying to cover up the horrific crime.
Dawson James Brown, 27, faces one count of statutory rape, two counts of sexual battery and one count of human trafficking after investigators say he repeatedly sexually assaulted a child who was living with his family in Pearl River County. The victim was just 13 years old when she became pregnant in the fall of 2025, according to court documents obtained by local media.
The case exploded after an anonymous tip to the Mississippi Department of Child Protective Services led deputies to the teen, now 14, who was approximately 33 weeks pregnant at the time the report was made in late June. A forensic examination of the girl’s iPhone 16 Pro Max uncovered multiple video and image files showing Brown and the teen engaging in sexual intercourse, stored in a hidden folder.
“This is one of the most disturbing cases I’ve seen in years,” said former 𝒔𝒆𝒙 crimes prosecutor John Clune, who reviewed the affidavits. “The sexual 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 is awful, the pregnancy is awful, but what stands out is that all of the caregivers in her life are allegedly committing crimes and helping cover up the 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮. The level of complexity of that trauma for a child this age is impossible to overstate.”
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the teen was living with the Brown family at the time of the assaults. The father of Dawson Brown is Pastor Michael Brown, who leads New Heights College Heights Baptist Church in Poplarville. The church has since taken down its website and Facebook page, but released a statement saying it is “aware of the serious allegations” and affirming “unwavering commitment to the protection and care of children.”
Two women are also facing charges in what authorities describe as a deliberate effort to conceal the crime. Kendrell Bowden, 32, the mother of the teen victim, is charged with human trafficking and contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child. According to the affidavit, Bowden admitted she knew Dawson Brown was the father of her daughter’s unborn child but did not report it to law enforcement.
Instead, the documents allege, Bowden accepted money, tickets to a Mississippi State University sporting event, use of a vehicle and other favors from Brown in exchange for allowing him continued access to the teen. Investigators say Bowden even discussed with Brown whether he should leave the country after the pregnancy was discovered.
“It’s truly sickening to think that a mother would ever offer up her own daughter in exchange for sports tickets and access to a car,” said the news anchor covering the case.
Sabrina Brown, 27-year-old Dawson’s mother and the wife of Pastor Michael Brown, is charged with conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence and child neglect. The affidavit states that digital messages found on the teen’s phone show Sabrina attempted to coerce the girl to falsify information to investigators and fabricate a false DNA document regarding Dawson.
Sabrina Brown was a long-time educator at Pearl River Community College, reportedly teaching psychology classes. The college has cut ties with her, though no official statement has been released.
Dawson Brown remains in jail without bond after a judge agreed he poses a flight risk. Investigators cited a text message he sent to Bowden asking whether he should leave the country. He faces a minimum of 80 years in prison if convicted on all counts, with the possibility of multiple life sentences.
Pastor Michael Brown has not been charged, but the sheriff’s office is investigating whether he had knowledge of the 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮. As a pastor, Brown is a mandatory reporter in Mississippi, and he previously worked as an investigator with the Biloxi Police Department. Affidavits indicate that Bowden included him in some communications about the pregnancy.
The sheriff also confirmed that deputies are looking into rumors that the church may have held a baby shower for the teen. “That’s another aspect of the investigation we’re trying to get to the bottom of,” the sheriff told WLOX.
The teen victim is now in state custody, and authorities are determining what will happen when she gives birth. Legal experts say both the mother and the baby will likely remain under the supervision of social services.
“She doesn’t have the capacity to care for this child right now,” Clune said. “The message from the people who were supposed to protect her is that when the adults learned about the 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮, not only did it not stop, it continued, and she was enlisted to help them get away with it. It couldn’t be more harmful messaging from a mental health standpoint.”
Kendrell Bowden was released after posting a $160,000 bond. Sabrina Brown posted her own $10,000 bond and was also released. Dawson Brown remains behind bars.
The case is expected to move from justice court to circuit court once an indictment is issued. Additional charges, including for possession of child sexual 𝓪𝓫𝓾𝓼𝓮 material, could be filed as the investigation continues.
The community of Pearl River County is reeling. “We ask for prayer for all those affected,” the church statement read, “including anyone who suffered harm, the families involved, our church family, and the investigators entrusted with carrying out their responsibilities with integrity.”
