Local football hero in jail, signs with MSU today

Published 6:00 am Thursday, December 21, 2006

A local football hero is spending five days in the LincolnCounty jail. Defensive tackle Jessie Bowman, a 2005 Brookhaven HighSchool graduate and a Copiah-Lincoln Community College star, haspleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of trespassing and simpleassault. The altercation took place July 3 at a Brookhavenresidence.

Bowman, a 6-foot-1, 315-pound all-state high school star and arecent NJCAA All-American Team selection, made an oral commitmentto sign with Mississippi State University last week. He had signeda national letter of intent with MSU coming out of BHS but wasdeclared academically ineligible, so he enrolled at Co-Lin.

Bowman was sentenced to 180 days in jail with all but five dayssuspended for the trespassing count. His six-month sentence for thesimple assault count was fully suspended. He also will serve a2-year probation term and complete an anger management program,according to a sentencing order issued by the Lincoln CountyCircuit Court.

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The original indictment accused Bowman of breaking into a housewith the “intent to commit the crime of simple assault” on one ofthe occupants. The incident involved Bowman’s ex-girlfriend andanother male.

According to Lincoln County District Attorney Dee Bates, “Jessieknocked the door in and the way I understand it, is as the femaletried to break it up, he tried to push her down. She actually got afractured arm. He struck the other gentlemen.”

Bates said he downgraded the charge after he and his assistantsdiscussed whether the possible 25-year prison sentence that comeswith felony burglary was appropriate.

“I thought at this time it didn’t warrant a felony to haunt himfor the rest of his life,” said Bates. “This is a situation whenyou look at it, for lack of a better word, it was a domestic case.It’s not what you typically look at as a burglary, someone breakinginto your house to steal something.

“I just looked at it as an individual basis,” Bates continued.”It wasn’t Jessie, whether he was a ballplayer or not.”

Bowman’s attorney, Joe Fernald, said Bowman regretted theincident. “He’s disappointed in what he did. He wants to make surethat everybody understands that he’s interested in being a goodcitizen.”

Bates said breaking into a private residence allows theresidents to legally defend themselves and their property.

“If there was a gun available, they certainly had a right toshoot him,” said Bates. “You don’t want people to get hurt in asituation like this.”

Bates said the female did not want Bowman to go to jail. “Shejust wanted restitution for the injuries.”

Fernald said Bowman wants to play football in the SoutheasternConference and become a good citizen. Under the probation ruling,his behavior off the field must be exemplary.

“This was a wake-up call for Jessie,” said Fernald. “Being aplayer in the Southeastern Conference is a lot like politics. Dosomething wrong and they will bury you.”

Fernald said Bowman had volunteered to pay for replacement ofthe door and all medical expenses.

Bowman said last week he intended to sign with Mississippi Statetoday. The scholarship papers could be signed in the Lincoln Countyjail.

MSU lost three of its four starters in the defensive line,making Bowman a prized recruit to fill one of those vacancies. Healso was recruited by Ole Miss.

Bowman starred on Brookhaven’s 2004 Class 4A state championshipteam, earning all-state honors. He was recognized as The DAILYLEADER’s Defensive Player of the Year.

According to Co-Lin head football coach Glenn Davis, the storyof Bowman’s incarceration appearing in TheClarion-Ledger’s Wednesday morning edition was no coincidence.It coincides with the national signing date for junior collegeplayers.

“When you get into the heat of a recruiting battle and youdecide not to go to one school, people try to dig up dirt and throwmud in your face,” said Davis. “This is supposed to be a great dayfor Jessie but some people don’t like it and they want to ruinit.

“Jessie is paying the penalty for his mistake,” said Davis. “Ibelieve with all my heart that it (story) is convenient because ofthe signing date.

“There are a lot of people out there who do (illegal) things andyou never see their names on the front page.”

Davis said Bowman has been an inspirational leader on thefootball field and in the Co-Lin dormitory. “He has influencedplayers not to miss curfew and obey the rules.”

Last week Bowman visited Brookhaven Elementary School students.Davis was present for the tour and made these observations.

“You could see the kids’ eyes get wide and light up,” saidDavis. “They all wanted to jump on him and hug him. The teacherswere hugging him, too.”

Bowman was invited to come back and read a book to someclasses.

Davis said Bowman planned to sign the scholarship papers withMSU this morning at the courthouse.