Wednesday, November 20, 2019

DNA Match Leads to Burglary Arrest



On December 21, 2018, Deputy First Class Ball responded to the 38700 block of Collinwood Drive in Abell, for the reported burglary. Investigation determined an unknown individual forced entry into the victim’s residence and removed personal property.  St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab responded and processed the scene for latent fingerprints and DNA.  DNA samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.  In May of 2019, information was received on a positive DNA match on the submitted samples.  In June of 2019, a search warrant was executed to obtain a DNA sample from the potential match, James Ernest Bowles, age 62 of Avenue. The samples obtained for Bowles were submitted and analyzed; the samples were a positive match for DNA obtained from the scene of the burglary.

On November 19, 2019, Bowles was arrested and charged with the following:

Burglary First Degree
Burglary Third Degree
Malicious Destruction of Property

Bowles remains incarcerated at the St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center on a no bond status.

For official news and information, follow the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office on Twitter @firstsheriff.



James Ernest Bowles