Three men in custody – one still at large

Flagler County Sheriff James L Manfre told Historic City News that the third of four men accused of kidnapping and committing sexual assault against a Flagler County woman has surrendered to authorities and the hunt is intensifying for the remaining suspect.

Investigators are still looking for 31-year-old Frank Goggans, whose residence address is believed to be 65 Leidel Drive in Palm Coast. A Flagler County felony warrant charging Goggans with false imprisonment has been issued in connection with the sexual assault that occurred in March; after the men met the victim at Finn’s bar in Flagler Beach.

“Our detectives have tenaciously worked on gathering the facts in this case so we could charge these four men with the appropriate felony offenses,” said Sheriff Manfre. “The victim was violated and held against her will. These men should pay a price.”

26-year-old Kurt Benjamin, a resident at 31 Poinsettia Lane in Palm Coast, turned himself in overnight at the Flagler County Detention Facility, after he learned that there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest on charges of sexual battery and kidnapping. He was booked into the jail at 12:47 this morning and is being held on $100,000 bond.

28-year-old Daniel Goggans, whose address is reported as 65 Leidel Drive in Palm Coast, turned himself in to the Flagler County Detention Facility Thursday evening and is being held on $100,000 bond on charges of sexual battery and kidnapping.

30-year-old Charles Larkin Cowart, who resides at 11361 CR-305, Bunnell, turned himself in Wednesday. He is charged with sexual battery and kidnapping. He is being held without bond, as he also faces charges of violation of probation.

Witnesses told detectives investigating these crimes that the female victim had been drinking at Finn’s with a friend during the early morning hours of March 20. Detectives say she was incapacitated due to alcohol consumption. The victim was observed leaving the bar with two men she met inside. The three men in custody, Daniel Goggans, Benjamin and Cowart, allegedly wound up on the beach with her and committed the sexually battery.

Frank Goggans, the brother of Daniel Goggans, is accused of placing the woman in his vehicle, against her will, aided by the other three men. “The victim was physically helpless to resist at the time,” a sheriff’s spokesman told reporters. According to the information released by the Sheriff’s Office, the victim was taken to a hunting cabin in West Flagler County.

Cowart drove the woman home the next afternoon. He admitted to investigators that he did have sex with the victim on the previous evening. When the victim arrived home, she immediately reported the assault to her mother, and the Sheriff’s Office was contacted.

Historic City News readers who may have information about this incident, or know the whereabouts of Frank Goggans, are asked to report that information to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office at 386-313-4911 or by calling Crimestoppers at 1-888-277-8477. You may remain anonymous and you could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.