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Next phase of Luzerne County Courthouse restoration underway

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Owner of Kingston Corners Building near deal with new tenant

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A New Jersey native who has been living in Wilkes-Barre is linked to other people involved in a series of recent shootings and violence that rocked the city, an undercover state drug agent said Tuesday.</p><p>Just how connected Kevin R. Bowden is to several drive-by shootings in February remains uncertain as the drug agent said it remains an ongoing investigating involving other complex cases.</p><p>Bowden, 41, also known as &#8220;Ghost&#8221; and &#8220;Poodie,&#8221; was arrested March 15 when state and city drug agents served a search warrant at his residence on the second floor at 119 Hanover St. </p><p>Agents say they found 10 grams of crack cocaine hidden under a fire place mantle, a scale and packaging materials, a loaded 9mm pistol on a nightstand in a bedroom, a bag containing 12 shotgun shells, and a bag containing an unknown white substance in a child&#8217;s bedroom.</p><p>During Bowden&#8217;s preliminary hearing before District Judge James Haggerty in Luzerne County Central Court, a request by his lawyer, John Donovan, to modify bail initiated a response from drug agents.</p><p>One of them told Haggerty that Bowden was prohibited from possessing and carrying a firearm due to a manslaughter conviction in New Jersey where he served nearly seven years in prison. The agent also said Bowden is connected to other people involved in the recent rash of shootings.</p><p>The case may also be transferred to federal authorities due to the firearm and Bowden being a convicted felon.</p><p>Haggerty modified Bowden&#8217;s bail from $250,000 to $150,000 straight. He was remanded to the county jail after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing, sending charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal possession of a firearm to county court.</p><p>Investigators interviewed Bowden&#8217;s wife, Jacinta Bowden, when their apartment was searched, court records say.</p><p>Jacinta claimed she purchased the firearm in her name for $220 at a store in Hanover Township, and leaves the firearm unsecured in their apartment. She told investigators they have lived in Wilkes-Barre for two years, and was aware Bowden smoked crack cocaine he gave to family and friends but did not know him to deal drugs, court records say.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Kevin-Bowden-WBPD-03152019.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bowden </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_Kevin-Bowden-WBPD-03152019.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bowden </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Bail reduced for suspect linked to WB shootings