Cocaine dealer steals past prosecutor’s credit card

By JESSIE STENSLAND
Whidbey News Times Assistant editor
November 14, 2008 · 4:44 PM

  • 0
  • Print Story
  • Email Author
  • Letter/Editor

A 30-year-old Oak Harbor resident is going to prison for dealing cocaine and using the credit card of a former deputy prosecutor.

Under a plea bargain, Jason Bowen pleaded guilty in two different cases in Island County Superior Court Nov. 10. In one, he pleaded to one count of the delivery of cocaine. In the other, he pleaded to identity theft in the second degree.

Judge Alan Hancock agreed with the recommended sentence worked out under the plea bargain. The sentences for the two crimes will run at the same time. Ultimately, that means Bowen was sentenced to four years and two months in prison.

The victim in the identify theft case happened to be a former deputy prosecutor who was fired, filed a claim against the office and ultimately won a $300,000 settlement. Amy Dempsey accused Prosecutor Greg Banks of pressuring her to support him in an election, an allegation Banks strongly denied.

But the bad blood with the victim didn’t stop prosecutors from going after Bowen.

The crime took place during a spree of thefts from cars at North Whidbey parks last summer.

Dempsey’s purse was taken from her car parked at Rocky Point on Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. The window of her vehicle was smashed in by a rock.

Her credit cards were used at an Oak Harbor convenience store and police identified Bowen from the store’s security camera.

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.

blog comments powered by Disqus