By Linda Cicoira — Aaron Jamarcus Bowens, who witnesses say was paid $1,000 for injuring an Eastern Shore Drug Task Force informant, pleaded guilty last week in Accomack Circuit Court to conspiring with a prisoner to commit capital murder.
The plea came in an agreement between Commonwealth’s Attorney Spencer Morgan and Bowens, also known as Easy and BOBO, 22, of Big Pine Road in Painter. While Morgan does not believe Bowens actually shot the informant and his girlfriend in October 2017, two other defendants say he was one of several people asked to do the hit and he claimed responsibility and was paid for it. Bowens was also identified through cell phone and jail phone records.
The goal of the shooting was to prevent Nathaniel Johnson from coming to court to testify against Evron Strand, an inmate at Accomack Jail who was awaiting trial for cocaine distribution.
The deal called for Bowens to be sentenced to 20 years in prison with a portion of the time suspended. Judge W. Revell Lewis III accepted the agreement and will decide later whether or not the active time will exceed seven years.
Former Northampton Commonwealth’s Attorney Bruce Jones publicly accused Bowens of murdering an Exmore man a few years ago although he was never charged with the crime. Bowens’ home was searched after Johnson was shot and street gang-related notes were confiscated.
There was a $3,000 contract for killing Johnson, according to court records. Morgan said Bowens was paid less because Johnson survived.
