Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 7, 1995 TAG: 9510070020
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
Before he was caught red-handed breaking into an unoccupied Endicott home last October, he had run through the house trying to avoid capture, Franklin County investigators said.
He was using a walker when a jury convicted him in January of grand larceny and breaking and entering while armed, and set a 40-year prison term.
And Friday, after months of delays, Euell Bowman was wheeled into the courtroom on a gurney for his formal sentencing.
At 62, he is one of the oldest people to be convicted of stealing with a gun in Franklin County, said Commonwealth's Attorney Cliff Hapgood.
Hapgood painted Bowman as the leader of a multicounty burglary ring.
But Bowman and some of his family members said he was just a tired and sick old man who was taken advantage of by others involved with the crimes.
After he was convicted in January, Bowman returned to his home in Bassett.
His daughter, Deborah Cline, said her father had a stroke in February and has been bedridden ever since.
Bowman was scheduled to appear in court several times for his sentencing. After he missed the second court date this summer, prosecutors believed he had fled the region.
But members of Bowman's family sent word that he was sick and unable to make it to court.
Hapgood then waited about four months before finally deciding to force Bowman to face justice.
He arranged for an ambulance so Bowman could be brought to court from Bassett.
"I have to say that I've never had to do something like this before," Hapgood said.
Cline and her husband, Mike, helped wheel Bowman into the courtroom Friday. Bowman appeared feeble and disoriented, with tubes running into his nose and two orange straps across his legs.
Circuit Judge B.A. Davis III took his seat on the bench and asked Bowman if he could hear.
Bewildered, Bowman looked at his daughter.
So Davis stepped down from the bench and walked over to Bowman, whose gurney was parked in the middle of the aisle.
The Clines explained that Bowman - who dropped a court-appointed attorney he wasn't satisfied with - was appearing in court without counsel.
Davis then decided to send Bowman to the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond until another lawyer could be appointed for him and the sentencing rescheduled.
At that point, Deborah Cline broke down.
Crying and clutching her father's arm, she pleaded to Davis: "I wish I could take him home with me."
Responded the judge: "I know you would, ma'am. But I can't do that. I wish he hadn't been convicted'' of a felony.
So Bowman was loaded into an elevator, and rescue workers prepared to put him back into the ambulance.
The Clines - who said they believe Bowman is innocent and who gave up their home to take care of him and pay for his health care - then pleaded with a Franklin County deputy to let them follow the ambulance.
"We can't let you do that," the deputy said.
Bowman then was taken inside the Franklin County jail for a few minutes.
Outside, Deborah Cline started asking questions to anyone who would listen.
"Where's this hospital at?"
"Do you understand what just happened up there?"
At the same time Cline was looking for answers, Hapgood said he had a brainstorm.
"I just decided that this might not be the way we want to do things. Since he hasn't been sentenced, they might accept him at MCV, but there might be some problems, too."
A quick conference was held, and it was decided that Bowman was to go back home to Bassett until a new sentencing hearing could be scheduled.
The Clines met with Hapgood after finding out the news.
"Don't worry," Mike Cline said. "He's not going anywhere."
by CNB