FARMINGTON — A Carthage man accused of attempting to murder his girlfriend in November has been charged with violating bail conditions by attempting to contact her, police said.
Benjamin T. Bowie II, 47, of Judkins Road, was charged Tuesday with violating his bail conditions. He had been arrested and charged in November with attempted murder, a class A felony, and a class B charge of aggravated assault for an alleged domestic violence assault involving his girlfriend.
Bowie appeared before Judge Nancy Carlson on Wednesday at the Rumford District Court via video arraignment from the Franklin County Jail, where his bail on the new charge, a class C felony, was set at $20,000.
A police affidavit filed on Tuesday stated that Bowie had tried to send a letter to the girlfriend through a third party, violating his bail conditions, which barred him from contacting or attempting to contact her.
The jail staff had intercepted a letter from the third party that stated, “I found your letter and mailed it to (the girlfriend).” An officer then interviewed Bowie about the incident and he admitted having tried to contact his girlfriend.
On Thursday, Bowie remained at the Franklin County Jail in Farmington, where he has been held since his initial arrest on Nov. 3.
Bail conditions are still in effect even if the person on whom they are imposed remains in custody.
On Dec. 23, a Franklin County judge lowered Bowie’s bail from $250,000 cash to $25,000 cash or $100,000 worth of real estate.
Franklin County District Attorney Andrew Robinson said Thursday that a motion to revoke bail was filed on Wednesday with the court. According to court documents, a hearing date for bail revocation is scheduled for Jan. 15.
According to the police affidavit on the aggravated assault and attempted murder charges, an argument between Bowie and his girlfriend late on Oct. 31 resulted in Bowie threatening to kill the woman, punching her in the face, slamming her head on the dashboard of his truck and cutting her neck with his hunting knife.
On Nov. 1, Franklin County sheriff’s officers went to 27 Francis Place, the home of Bowie’s mother, Gertrude Bowie, who had reported that the girlfriend arrived at the house unexpectedly and was bleeding from the neck, according to the affidavit.
After the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department issued a warrant for Bowie’s arrest, he was found by Wells police and was taken into custody at the York County Jail, where Franklin County deputies arrested him on Nov. 3.
Lauren Abbate — 861-9252
Twitter: @Lauren_M_Abbate
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