Man is charged in fire death
The Wyandotte County district attorney takes an extra step in the filing of charges.
A Kansas City, Kan., man was charged Thursday with first-degree felony murder and aggravated arson in a house fire Sunday night that killed an 8-year-old girl. Karl Bowlin, 41, also was charged with second-degree unintentional murder as an alternative to the first-degree charge. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of causing the fire that killed Jewell Morse.
Jerome A. Gorman, Wyandotte County district attorney, said Bowlin caused an explosion by aiming fireworks at the house at 49 S. 14th St. “That explosion caused the fire that resulted in the death of Jewell Morse,” Gorman said. He stressed that the murder charge did not allege that Bowlin intentionally killed Jewell. “We’re alleging that the fireworks were intentionally set and intentionally thrown at the house,” he said.
Bowlin was charged with felony murder, Gorman said, because Jewell’s death was the result of another felony, aggravated arson. Because the court is not compelled to give a jury an alternative charge in such cases, Gorman provided it with the second-degree charge. “What we’re saying here is the defendant is guilty of one of two charges,” Gorman said.
Bowlin, he added, acted “recklessly,” reflecting an “indifference to human life.” The fire was reported about 10:10 p.m. Sunday. By the time firefighters arrived three minutes later, the rear of the home was completely ablaze. Rescuers found Jewell on the main level, rushed her out and tried to resuscitate her. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Fire officials said they had not determined what kind of firework caused Sunday’s blaze. Kansas City, Kan., allows its residents to set off certain kinds of fireworks between July 2 and July 4. It does not allow rockets, but does permit fireworks such as buzz bombs, fountains, spinning wheels and Roman candles.
Bowlin, who lives across the alley from the house, is being held on $100,000 bond in the Wyandotte County Jail. His first appearance in court is scheduled for 1 p.m. today. It would not be Bowlin’s first conviction, according to Wyandotte County court records.
In 1986, Bowlin pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and carrying an open container. In 1993, he received a 5- to 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to robbery.
He was paroled in 1995, but parole violations sent him back to prison two more times. Two years later, Bowlin pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license and without auto insurance.
In 2001, he pleaded guilty to drunken driving stemming from an incident the year before. He was granted probation.
Found here: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/14982929.htm
The Wyandotte County district attorney takes an extra step in the filing of charges.
A Kansas City, Kan., man was charged Thursday with first-degree felony murder and aggravated arson in a house fire Sunday night that killed an 8-year-old girl. Karl Bowlin, 41, also was charged with second-degree unintentional murder as an alternative to the first-degree charge. He faces up to life in prison if convicted of causing the fire that killed Jewell Morse.
Jerome A. Gorman, Wyandotte County district attorney, said Bowlin caused an explosion by aiming fireworks at the house at 49 S. 14th St. “That explosion caused the fire that resulted in the death of Jewell Morse,” Gorman said. He stressed that the murder charge did not allege that Bowlin intentionally killed Jewell. “We’re alleging that the fireworks were intentionally set and intentionally thrown at the house,” he said.
Bowlin was charged with felony murder, Gorman said, because Jewell’s death was the result of another felony, aggravated arson. Because the court is not compelled to give a jury an alternative charge in such cases, Gorman provided it with the second-degree charge. “What we’re saying here is the defendant is guilty of one of two charges,” Gorman said.
Bowlin, he added, acted “recklessly,” reflecting an “indifference to human life.” The fire was reported about 10:10 p.m. Sunday. By the time firefighters arrived three minutes later, the rear of the home was completely ablaze. Rescuers found Jewell on the main level, rushed her out and tried to resuscitate her. She was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Fire officials said they had not determined what kind of firework caused Sunday’s blaze. Kansas City, Kan., allows its residents to set off certain kinds of fireworks between July 2 and July 4. It does not allow rockets, but does permit fireworks such as buzz bombs, fountains, spinning wheels and Roman candles.
Bowlin, who lives across the alley from the house, is being held on $100,000 bond in the Wyandotte County Jail. His first appearance in court is scheduled for 1 p.m. today. It would not be Bowlin’s first conviction, according to Wyandotte County court records.
In 1986, Bowlin pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and carrying an open container. In 1993, he received a 5- to 20-year sentence after pleading guilty to robbery.
He was paroled in 1995, but parole violations sent him back to prison two more times. Two years later, Bowlin pleaded guilty to driving with a suspended license and without auto insurance.
In 2001, he pleaded guilty to drunken driving stemming from an incident the year before. He was granted probation.
Found here: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/14982929.htm