A 69-year-old Boston man is facing criminal charges after allegedly attempting to press a chemical-soaked rag to the face of a 14-year-old boy.
Boston man attacks teenager
According to a Monday press release from the Suffolk County District Attorney, the encounter unfolded on July 28, when a teenager was waiting for his older brother to pick him up.
A man in a Hawaiian shirt allegedly walked up and tried to force a handkerchief over the boy’s mouth.
The suspect, identified as Willie Cowart, was later taken into custody by Boston police.
He has been charged with one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
The young victim spoke to CBS Boston about the frightening moment, revealing the emotional toll it has taken on him.
“It’s basically like facing your biggest fear. Like the way the guy was looking, too,” the boy said. “My heart was beating fast and stuff. I was really scared.”
The teen told CBS Boston this was the “first time this has ever happened to me,” adding that his parents are now deeply worried about his safety when he’s out alone.
“I can’t go outside. My mom told me until I’m 20, to go outside by myself when school is finished, I can’t stay after school,” he explained.
Investigators quickly located Cowart following the incident, and authorities noted he was “sweating profusely” at the time of his arrest.
A search of his vehicle turned up “several cleaning agents,” the DA’s office said.
Boston man denies attack
Cowart denied attempting to chemically assault the boy. “It never happened,” he reportedly said.
“The only thing on my handkerchief is my sweat,” Cowart added. “And no, I didn’t put any handkerchief over any minor’s mouth.”
“This is a strange, and extremely disturbing, set of facts. It doesn’t take much imagination to appreciate how frightening it was for this young man to be standing on a street corner and suddenly be accosted in such a bizarre manner,” Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden said in the statement.
“I’m grateful that he suffered no apparent injuries,” he added about the victim.
Cowart entered a plea of not guilty during a court appearance on July 30 and was released under conditions that require him to stay away from both the teen and the location of the alleged attack.
Cowart is scheduled to appear in court again on October 29.
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Meanwhile, another disturbing case involving the exploitation of minors reached a resolution this week in the same city.
Predator sentenced for filming child
On Tuesday, 27-year-old Jacob Guerrero was sentenced in a Boston federal courtroom to 16 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
He was convicted of multiple offenses, including the sexual exploitation of a child and transporting child pornography.
The charges stem from an incident in 2021 when Guerrero allegedly climbed onto the roof of a garage and recorded an 11-year-old girl undressing inside her bedroom.
Prosecutors say he had spent two weeks monitoring the child’s home, observing her routines and planning his illegal activity.
Guerrero first drew law enforcement attention when he was reportedly spotted wearing a wig and female clothing while attempting to record footage of girls inside public bathrooms and changing rooms.
Authorities said he used pen-style cameras attached to his shoes to capture illicit images.
He pleaded guilty in August 2024 to sexually exploiting a child. Then in May 2025, he entered a guilty plea to the transportation of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
“Jacob Guerrero is a deeply disturbed and dangerous man who devised a twisted plan to prey upon children, specifically to abuse and exploit them,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division.
“With these hideous crimes, this predator has forfeited the right to walk among us and will be kept behind bars and away from children for quite some time,” Docks added.
Federal officials said Guerrero’s behavior included repeated attempts to spy on unsuspecting minors in public spaces by disguising himself and using covert recording devices.
The discovery of the video involving the 11-year-old victim led to a broader investigation and the subsequent criminal charges.
Authorities have not disclosed whether additional victims were identified in the course of the investigation, but noted that Guerrero’s methods suggest his actions may not have been isolated.
He will serve his sentence in a federal correctional facility and will be subject to strict supervision upon release.
