Ebey Bowl suspect spared burglary charge

A 34-year-old Oak Harbor man suspected of burglarizing the Ebey Bowl in Coupeville with his girlfriend was recently sentenced to jail.

Jason M. Bowen pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court Monday to criminal trespass in the first degree, theft in the third degree and escape from community custody.

Deputy Prosecutor David Carman said in court Monday that Bowen was originally charged with burglary, but the prosecution had “proof problems” with the evidence.

In addition, Carman said Bowen’s co-defendant, 23-year-old Jasmine Seaward, has disappeared and he was relying on her testimony. She didn’t appear for a Nov. 5 hearing and is currently wanted on a warrant.

Judge Vickie Churchill followed the recommendation worked out in the plea bargain and sentenced Bowen to two months in jail. She also ordered him to pay restitution to the Ebey Bowl.

The burglary at the bowling alley on Terry Road was reported on May 29. A deputy found a back door had been forced open. Stolen items included beer, liquor, candy, a laptop computer and hundreds of dollars.

A detective with the Island County Sheriff’s Office identified the two suspects through surveillance video.

Bowen was on community custody, which is basically probation, at the time of the burglaries. Detectives sent out a press release asking the public for help locating him after the burglary.

Bowen’s criminal history includes a 1999 bank robbery conviction, according to court records.

Contact South Whidbey Record Staff Reporter Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com.

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