A man who robbed the same South Side market twice while under electronic monitoring for a pending burglary case has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Prosecutors claim Timothy Bowden, 29, committed both crimes while out on “essential movement” privileges afforded to those under electronic surveillance under the SAFE-T Act. The program provides for two days each week outside the home for permitted activities such as job applications, grocery shopping, and medical visits. Robbing a store is not regarded as a necessary action.
Last year, just before Christmas, officers responded to a robbery at La Feria, located at 9704 South Commercial Avenue in South Deering. A 46-year-old employee informed them that a man handed her a note that read, “Give me the $, I got a gun.” After getting cash, the robber fled the establishment.
According to his CPD arrest report, cops discovered Bowden about a block away wearing clothing that matched the robber’s description. The cashier recognized him as the culprit.
The employee apparently informed investigators that Bowden robbed the business on another day, but prosecutors only prosecuted him for the Christmas-week crime.
Bowden has been on electronic monitoring since July 2024, following his arrest on a burglary charge in September 2023, according to the sheriff’s office.
While those on essential mobility may leave their houses twice a week, those days are still counted as sentence credits if they are convicted.
Judge Natosha Toller sentenced Bowden to three consecutive seven-year terms for burglary and two robberies, according to court documents. With a usual 50% sentence reduction and credit for time served in jail and on electronic monitoring, he is expected to be released in December 2027.
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