By C.F. David
Gideon Cowan, CEO of Worldwide Energy, found his past coming back to haunt him on April 1. Cowan, 60, was arrested by Cimarron County Sheriff’s Officers on a misdemeanor warrant from Major County, Oklahoma, (Fairview).
He was transferred to Fairview, by a Major County Sheriff’s Officer on April 2, and bonded out that evening on a $1,000 bond. He will face arraignment on May 1 on charges of driving under suspension and obstruction of an officer.
The arrest stems from two charges from a Jan. 23, 1996 traffic stop. According to documents obtained from Major County by The Boise City News, Cowan was stopped for speeding and a seatbelt violation, by OHP Trooper T.W. Stafford.
Stafford then asked Cowan for his driver’s license. According to Stafford’s report, Cowan said he did not have a driver’s license, but produced an Operator’s License from the British West Indies. Stafford then asked Cowan if he was a citizen of the British West Indies. Cowan, according to Stafford’s report then replied that he was not a citizen of any country.
Stafford then asked Cowan where he was born; he replied that he had been born in Watonga, but that he was not a citizen of the U.S.
Stafford then asked if the information on the proffered license was correct and if the name on it was his complete name, to which Cowan answered “Yes.” Stafford then asked for any other identification and Cowan said he had none.
At that time, Stafford issued Cowan a ticket for speeding, (70 in a 65), and a warning ticket for not wearing a seatbelt.
Stafford then wrote that the individual was Orval Gideon Cowan and that his Oklahoma license had been suspended.
According to the documents filed in January of 1996, by then Acting Major County D.A. Ray Don Jackson, the obstruction charge was a result of Cowan trying to delay the officer in the performance of his duties.
According to the paper work on the driving under suspension charge, that infraction could lead to imprisonment of up to one year and/or a fine from $100 to $500.
The obstruction charge could carry a sentence of one year and a fine of $500.
