Aaron Christopher Bowen, 17, of Fort Smith, Ark., was released to his mother, Charity Dunning of Van Buren, after posting a $35,000 bond. Bowen’s bond was reduced during a bond reduction hearing held at the Sequoyah County Courthouse, Sallisaw.
Bowen was charged March 9 with first-degree murder or in the alternative, second-degree murder, first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary, robbery by two or more persons, conspiracy to commit robbery by two or more persons and child neglect. During the bond hearing Bowen also prospectively waived future extradition from Arkansas.
The March 9 charges stem from a Feb. 27 incident that left a one-year old toddler dead. Heather Jones, the toddler’s mother, drove Michael Clemente, 19, and Bowen to Devin Jeremiah’s home where the two men allegedly robbed and beat Jeremiah.
Jeremiah, 20, began shooting at the vehicle with a .22 caliber rifle as Jones drove away. One of the bullets struck the child in the head. Jones, 19, rushed her daughter to Sparks Regional Medical Center in Fort Smith, Ark., after realizing the child had been shot while attempting to leave Jeremiah’s residence. The child was later life flighted to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark., where she was listed in critical condition.
Elaine Keene, 1, died March 1 at the hospital.
Bowen has been held in the Adair County Jail until Monday when he was allowed to post bond. Bowen was ordered to wear an ankle-monitoring device and to have no contact with co-defendants, Jones and Clemente.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 21 and 22 for both Clemente and Bowen.
