THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 2, 1996 TAG: 9605020427
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Grand larceny charges against City Council candidate Robert D. Bowman were dismissed last month in General District Court because the alleged theft victim was out of town and could not appear for a preliminary hearing.
Commonwealth's Attorney David Williams said he has made no decision on whether to seek an indictment against Bowman, who will compete with eight others for three council seats in Tuesday's local election.
Jerry W. Stillman, a 45-year-old welder, said he intends to pursue his allegation that Bowman stole a $1,000 drill press from Stillman's workshop.
Bowman admits it was a mistake to take the expensive tool from Stillman's workshop, even though Bowman believes the tool belongs to him.
The incident was the result of a disintegrating friendship and Bowman's long, difficult divorce.
Bowman and Stillman used to be friends, Bowman said. Their wives were friends. Stillman had worked for a construction company owned by Bowman and his wife.
Bowman said he bought the drill press for Stillman a couple of years ago, with the understanding that Stillman would pay him back in cash. Stillman said he did extensive work for Bowman's company in exchange for the price of the tool. But Bowman's wife got to keep the company as part of the divorce settlement, so Bowman believes he never got just compensation for the drill press.
In February, he went to Stillman's house in a rural area of Chesapeake near the border with Virginia Beach and took the tool from the workshop out back. ``I really don't know why I didn't pursue it in civil court,'' Bowman said.
``I'm sorry the whole thing even happened.''
Stillman pressed charges. ``He knew it was mine,'' Stillman said.
``I went for four years without even doors on the front of my shop,'' he said. ``Now I'm forced to lock my shop up. I moved out here in the country to get away from the theft.''
Bowman, at the urging of police, returned the drill press to Stillman and now plans to try to get it through the court system.
``I can't say who's right and who's wrong,'' Bowman said. ``I only know my side of it.'' by CNB