By Linda Cicoira — Aaron Jamarcus Bowens, who was paid $1,000 for injuring a police informant and was once accused of murdering an Exmore man, will spend five years in prison for his part in an October 2017 murder-for-hire conspiracy.
Bowens, aka Easy and BOBO, 23, of Big Pine Road in Painter, was sentenced to 20 years last week in Accomack Circuit Court for conspiring with a prisoner to commit capital murder. Fifteen years of the term was suspended. Bowens was also ordered to be on probation for three years and good behavior for five years.
Witnesses said Bowens was paid for injuring Nathaniel “Nate” Johnson, an Eastern Shore Drug Task Force informant. Authorities say Bowens didn’t actually shoot the informant so he was not charged with that crime. He was one of several people asked to kill Johnson. After the shooting occurred, he claimed responsibility and accepted the money.
Bowens was also identified through cell phone and jail phone records. He talked to Evron Terrell Strand Sr., 44, of Deer Drive in Nelsonia, who was in Accomack Jail when the arrangements were made. Strand got 50 years for ordering the hit and other charges in connection with the scheme. Strand wanted to stop Johnson from testifying against him on cocaine distribution charges. Strand was also fined $202,500 for his part in the murder-for-hire plot.
Bowens’ sentence was part of a plea bargain agreement with Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan that called for the defendant to serve no more than seven years. There was a $3,000 contract for killing Johnson, according to court records. Morgan said Bowens was paid less because Johnson survived.
Former Northampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Bruce Jones publicly accused Bowens of murdering an Exmore man a few years ago although he was never charged with the crime. A search of Bowens’ home resulted in street gang-related notes being confiscated.
Jones accused Bowens of the shooting death of Terrell “Juice” Devone Mason, a 26-year-old father of eight, who was killed in 2015. Mason was shot through the window of a shed, where neighborhood family and friends gathered to play cards, in Exmore.
Bowens was also involved in an incident at the former Sage Restaurant soon after that. He was hit in the leg by gunfire, which was followed by a high-speed police chase.
In another case, James Floyd, 56, of Dogwood Drive in Onancock, was convicted of four counts of assault and battery of rescue workers, which are felonies. The victims were Wayne Marshall, Cole Bonniwell, Chris Casaro, and Kevin Holloway. Floyd was also convicted of larceny from a person, Charlene Rowley. The incident occurred on April 2. Sentencing was set for Nov. 21.
Joseph Paul Mullane, 19, of Waltham Street in Norfolk, Va., pleaded guilty to breaking into the home of Cindy Reed, of Pine Drive on Chincoteague, and stealing property belonging to her son. Mullane was remanded to jail to await sentencing set for Nov. 7.
Latrell Rashawn Davis, 39, of Hall Street in Onancock, pleaded guilty to six counts of welfare fraud in connection with incidents that occurred between April 2014 and February 2019. Restitution of $5,960 was ordered. Sentencing was deferred until Nov. 7. Davis was initially charged with 10 counts of fraud.
Allison Elaine Stauffer, 20, of Keller, pleaded guilty to obtaining a credit card by false pretenses, three counts of grand larceny, and three counts of credit card fraud in connection with March incidents. The property belonged to Kathline Stauffer. A presentence report was ordered. Sentencing was set for Nov. 7. The defendant could be sentenced to up to 95 years in prison and fined $17,500.
Dana Rene Boyer, 35, of Black Mallard Way in Onancock, was given a 12-month suspended sentence for petty larceny of property belonging to James Spahn on Dec. 6, 2018. Boyer was ordered to pay restitution of $4,500, report back to the court in a year, have no contact with the victim, and be on indefinite probation. She was initially charged with grand larceny.
