42 year old alleged child predator Kenrick Alston Bowman is in jail tonight. The Lake Independence man who has been in the news for most of this week - was charged for the little used offence of, quote, "obtaining gratification why he engaged in activity of a sexual nature in front of a child." End quote. He was taken to court for arraignment this afternoon - and pleaded not guilty. It brings to an end a week of intense pressure on police. But, there's a twist in every tale - and the twist in this one is that Bowman was not charged for molesting the child whose story has been on the news - the one who was allegedly involved in oral sex for two packs of Ramen noodles. The allegation is for an incident with another child - dating back to sometime in January of 2015 - a child who was only made to witness and act - not one who engaged in it. The formal charge read in court was that Bowman, for the purpose of obtaining gratification, engaged in activity of a sexual nature in front of a 15 year old child, knowing or believing that he was being observed or with the intention of being observed by the said child.
Today, the southside commander Chester Williams wouldn't say much about that case, but explained why they have not brought charges for the more recent case:...
Sr. Supt Chester Williams - Commander, Eastern Division Southside
"We formerly arrested and charged Mr. Kenneth Bowman today for the crime of an activity of a sexual nature in the presence of a minor. I think that the charge for which we have proceeded on today, is one that I believe did in fact happened. As it relates to the second complain, there is some issues about it and the police have not been able to confirm from supposed to be witnesses as to what they have seen or heard on that day in question. Hence the reason we have not been able to move forward with that other complaint. If the person who gave the interview to the media would have cooperated with us, give us statements as to what he has seen or heard, it would have greatly assisted in this investigation. But he remained mute where the police is concerned. I do not believe that because there is a public outcry on a certain matter, that the police should jumped and charged. We should charge when we have evidence and as it relates to what may have took place on Saturday, we do not have the evidence required to move forward with that investigation. We should not be pursuing complainants, because when we do that as you rightly said it could take away that degree of impartiality or it could have the perception that that degree of impartiality as it related to the investigation and I do not think it is good, but the complaint that we have for which we have proceeded, it is one where the child came forward and his story, I am not going to say how I feel about it, but I do believe that something happened. Hence the reason I feel comfortable proceeding with that compliant that we have charged him for today."
And while police keep following up on the more recent complaint, as we told you at the top, Bowman is in jail. And it's not because he was remanded; he wasn't. He was offered and met bail - but the bail was not posted until after 4:30 - and by that time he was already on the prison bus. He will remain in jail for the weekend and is expected to meet bail on Monday.
Bowman pleaded not guilty in court today but police objected to bail on seven grounds, including the following: that an investigation is ongoing; that there will be more charges to be levy against him; and that if he is granted bail, he may try to interfere with the potential witnesses; that bail should not be granted for his own safety since the matter has received national coverage.
Magistrate Ladonna John then asked Bowman if he feels his life is at risk. Bowman said, quote, "No, I am comfortable in the area I live and in the area where this took place, I am selling that house...."
He added that he is staying in the Caesar Ridge area with his father who is 75 years old, but is not in fear. Bowman told the court that he wants to go back to his old job because was gainfully employed up to the day the police came and arrested him. He said that because the police did not allow him to secure his home when he was detained on Saturday night, thieves stole all his travelling documents, including his passport, visa and other items.
Bowman said he also needed bail to take care of his 75 year old father. His case was adjourned for November 25, 2015.
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