BEDFORD – A Mitchell man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly breaking into his ex-wife’s residence and stealing her cell phone during the early hours of January 18.
Timothy J.P. Bowden, 36, has been charged with Level 4 felony burglary, as well as misdemeanor counts of theft and criminal trespass.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed by Deputy C. Pruett of the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a home on State Road 158 at approximately 1:04 a.m. The victim reported that Bowden, from whom she has been divorced since November 2025, entered her home without permission and took her iPhone 12 after an argument.
At the scene, Deputy Pruett observed vehicle tracks in the snow leading through a neighbor’s field to the east side of the residence, where a screen door was found open. Records indicated that Bowden had been officially trespassed from the property since December 2024.
In a follow-up interview with police on January 19, Bowden denied the allegations of forced entry. He claimed the victim had invited him over and instructed him to park in the field to avoid waking her parents. Bowden told deputies the two had a consensual encounter before an argument broke out over a text message on the victim’s phone. He further claimed the phone was left in his truck by mistake and that he had since returned it.
Though Bowden promised to provide investigators with text messages proving he was invited to the home, Deputy Pruett noted that as of January 25, no such evidence had been produced, and Bowden could no longer be reached by phone.
An arrest warrant was requested for Bowden’s apprehension. He was detained on February 6th.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based on the information provided in the probable cause affidavit and does not represent a final determination of guilt or innocence.
