Published: October 26, 2009 03:26 pm      

Man who drove through school yard pleads

The Cumberland County man who drove a stolen pickup truck through a school yard and who was facing other felony charges in Criminal Court pleaded guilty recently to burglary, meth and endangerment charges and received a four-year prison sentence.

Jimmy Luther Bowman Jr., 34, who formerly listed an Old Baldwin Rd. address, was charged with burglary, attempted aggravated burglary, theft more than $1,000, simple possession of methamphetamine, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine and domestic assault.

Represented by Crossville attorney Robert Zecher, Bowman pleaded guilty to attempt to initiate the process to manufacture meth, and received a four-year prison sentence. He pleaded guilty to burglary and theft more than $1,000 and received a four-year prison sentence.

Bowman also pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment and received a two-year prison sentence, with restitution, if any, to be paid. All sentences will be served concurrent, or at the same time, for a total of four years.

Bowman was the man law enforcement accused of driving a pickup in circles and through the playground at South Cumberland Elementary School Dec. 11. He struck a portable classroom that was being used for storage. Because it was raining that day, children were not playing outside and no one was injured in the incident.

The suspect fled on foot and was arrested later. The pickup had been stolen from a Jada Dr. resident.

Remaining charges were dropped including charges pending in General Sessions Court.

In other guilty pleas, the following took place:

•Raymond Howard Morgan, 35, charged with theft more than $1,000, pleaded guilty to the charge and received a four-year suspended sentence to be served on probation after 297 days are served. He is to also pay $1,455 restitution to the victim.

•Jennifer Marie Houston, 21, charged with burglary, theft more than $1,000 and conspiracy to commit burglary, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary and received a two-year sentence to be served in the state prison system. Remaining charges were dropped.

•Lewis Matthew Turner, 49, charged with seventh offense driving under the influence and simple possession of hydrocodone, pleaded guilty to first offense driving under the influence and received a suspended 11-month and 29-day suspended sentence with ten days to be served on weekends, placed on probation for 11 months and 29 days, fined $500 and court costs, is to contribute $250 to the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department Drug Fund and license suspended. All remaining charges were dropped. The case was handled by a special prosecutor from an adjoining county.

•Carrie Nicole Rector, 22, charged with possession of more than one-half ounce of marijuana for resale and/or delivery, pleaded guilty to possession of more than one-half ounce of marijuana and received a two-year suspended sentence to be served on probation, was fined $2,000 and to pay court costs.