A man was convicted of attempted murder of a peace officer following a police pursuit and month-long crime spree.
A man was convicted of attempted murder of a peace officer following a police pursuit and month-long crime spree.
Jeremy Robert Bowles, 35, Buena Park, was found guilty by a jury Thursday, Oct. 18 of eight felony counts of first degree residential burglary, four felony counts of grand theft auto, two felony counts each of first degree robbery and possession of a firearm by a felon, one felony count each of attempted murder of a peace officer, assault with a firearm on a peace officer, shooting from a motor vehicle, shooting at an occupied motor vehicle, evading while driving recklessly, theft of a firearm, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, receiving stolen property, and possession of a controlled substance. Additionally, Bowles found guilty of the sentencing enhancements for personal use of a firearm, personal discharge of a firearm, and crime-bail-crime, one prior strike conviction for attempted carjacking in 2001, three prison prior convictions for one felony count of possession of methamphetamine in 1997, one felony count of possession of stolen property in 2000, and one felony count of attempted carjacking 2001.
Bowles faces a maximum sentence of 72 years and eight months to life in state prison at his sentencing on Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
In the early morning hours on Feb. 2, 2007, Bowles broke into the Fullerton home of an elderly victim, who had gone outside to get her copy of the newspaper. Bowles went inside the home wearing a ski mask and carrying a flashlight. He then robbed the victim of her purse.
On Feb. 4, 2007, Bowles broke into a home in Fullerton while a woman and her caretaker were sleeping and stole one of their purses and car keys and drove off in the vehicle.
On Feb. 9, 2007, Bowles broke into the attached garage of a home in Fullerton and rummaged through a car that was parked inside and stole approximately $100 in cash and power tools before fleeing.
On Feb. 12, 2007, Bowles broke into the home of a Los Angeles County Department firefighter. Bowles searched the home office and stole a laptop and the victim’s work ID and the car from the garage.
At approximately 6:30 a.m. on Feb. 17, 2007, Bowles broke into the home of a man, waking the victim due to the noise. Bowles threatened the victim at gunpoint to get on his knees while the defendant searched through the victim’s belongings. The defendant then asked the victim if he had a gun and located a .22 caliber pistol. The defendant pistol-whipped and punched the victim, stole his gun, and fled the scene.
In the early morning hours of Feb. 21, 2007, Bowles broke into a home in Cerritos and stole a 42-inch flat screen television. The defendant placed the television on top of his car and fled the scene.
On Feb. 23, 2007, Bowles broke into a residence and stole the victim’s purse and her vehicle that was parked in the attached garage.
On Feb. 25, 2007, Buena Park Police Department arrested Bowles at Budget Inn in Santa Fe Springs. During his arrest, police found ammunition, methamphetamine, and recovered stolen property from victims whom he robbed and burglarized.
On Aug. 25, 2008, Bowles was released from custody on $150,000 bail.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 28, 2008, Bowles broke into a home in Buena Park while the victims were asleep. Bowles stole a purse and car keys from inside the home and drove off in the victim’s car.
On Sept. 18, 2008, co-defendant Thomas Hyong Tae Cho was driving his vehicle in a Buena Park neighborhood while Bowles sat in the passenger seat. A BP police officer, who was patrolling the neighborhood, recognized Cho from the department’s most wanted list and attempted to pull the defendant’s vehicle over. Cho complied, pulling his vehicle over near a freeway on-ramp.
As the officer got out of his vehicle and approached the defendant’s vehicle, Bowles took out a firearm and attempted to murder the officer by shooting at him. The officer was not struck. The defendants drove off in their vehicle and led Buena Park Police Department on a pursuit.
BP officers arrested Cho after the pursuit, two days later, ending his reign of terror when they found him hiding out at a home in Cypress.
Deputy District Attorney Daniel Varon of the Felony Panel is prosecuting this case.
