Sex offender from Moreno Valley arrested near elementary school in Burbank

BURBANK (Wire Service) - A 69-year-old registered sex offender from Moreno Valley was arrested for allegedly having pornographic photos of young girls near an elementary school in Burbank, police said.

Donald Cowan was pulled over for a traffic stop about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, January 2, in the 1900 block of North Ontario Street near an elementary school, according to Sgt. Darin Ryburn of the Burbank Police Department.

Cowan, who was not wearing his seatbelt and was the sole occupant of a gold-colored Toyota Camry, admitted he did not have his driver's license, and a records check indicated he was a registered sex offender from Moreno Valley, Ryburn said.

"A subsequent search of his vehicle located young girls clothing in the trunk,'' Ryburn said. "Further investigation revealed Donald Cowan was in possession of pornographic pictures of young girls.''

Cowan was arrested and booked for possession of images depicting persons under the age of 18 involved in sexual acts. He is being held on $380,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday, January 4.

Authorities urged anyone who may have come in contact with Cowan -- a white man with short brown hair and blue eyes, about 5 feet 4 and 115 pounds -- to call (818) 238-3246.