Morning Sentinel
Skowhegan woman jailed for sex with boy
BY MORNING SENTINEL STAFF Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 04/10/2008

SKOWHEGAN -- A superior court justice sentenced a Skowhegan woman to three years in prison Wednesday for having sex with a 14-year-old boy only months after she finished serving a jail sentence for abusing the same boy.

Jessica L. Bowring, 28, was sentenced to five years in prison with all but three suspended. That means she faces an additional two years behind bars if she violates the terms of her probation after she is released.

Bowring has pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor and two counts of violating the conditions of her release.

A psychological evaluation indicated Bowring showed little empathy for the victim and appeared much more concerned about her own needs, according to testimony Wednesday.

Justice Joseph Jabar said he structured the sentence to give the boy a chance to grow up. By the time Bowring is released from prison, he will be about 18. When she is done with three years of probation, he will be about 21.

Bowring is prohibited from having any contact with the boy under the terms of her probation.

During an emotional hour-long hearing, the boy's mother said the relationship had caused deep harm to her son and the entire family.

"My son used to get A's and B's before this happened. He was doing tremendous in school. Now he is struggling to get through his freshman year," said the mother, who broke down in tears several times.

She said she sent him to live with a family member in Florida last year to prevent further contact with Bowring.

The boy's stepfather said he has watched the boy change.

"The kid has gone from a happy kid to a kid with all kinds of issues," he said. "He feels guilty over (Bowring). He feels guilty over his dad and his mom and everybody."

Assistant District Attorney James Mitchell said that what his office wanted out of a sentence was protection for the boy.

Bowring was convicted in 2006 of sexual assault and served about nine months in jail. She was prohibited from having further contact with the boy after her release.

During a roughly three-month period after she was released, Bowring sent the boy over 4,000 text messages, said Mitchell. The boy returned over 3,000, he said.

Mitchell said that Bowring may not be the sort of predator who stalks young children, but she is still a sex offender.

"It is not about sex. It is just like it is with the men. It is about control and power," said Mitchell.

Attorney John Alsop, who defended Bowring, said the boy initiated the contact after Bowring was released from jail and was a willing participant.

"If he was here today, I don't think he would be asking you to lock up Jessica," said Alsop.

Bowring has no previous criminal history and spent her teenage years being abused and raising children, Alsop said.

"She suffers from depression. She suffers from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)," said Alsop.

Bowring, who appeared to be weeping through much of the hearing, said that when she was released from jail, she "didn't have anything."

The Department of Health and Human Services had taken her children.

The first time the boy contacted her after her release, Bowring told him "it couldn't happen," she said.

But she said she wasn't strong enough to resist him.

If given a second chance, however, Bowring said she would not have contact with the boy again.

"It has ruined my life just as much as it has ruined everybody else's," she said.

District Attorney Evert N. Fowle said Justice Jabar's sentence was appropriate.

"No matter what, when you have this kind of sexual relationship, it is exploitation pure and simple," he said.

Alan Crowell -- 474-9534, Ext. 342

acrowell@centralmaine.com

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