James B. Fowler Jr., 33, of Union has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after he was found in a stolen pickup with a gun and illegal drugs. Fowler is a prior offender who was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in 2016 in Jefferson County and burglary in 2018 in Crawford County, court documents show.
Jefferson County Div. 1 Circuit Judge Joseph Rathert sentenced Fowler on May 6 to 10 years in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm, 10 years for tampering with a motor vehicle and 10 years each for two counts of possession of a controlled substance. However, the sentences will be served concurrently, or at the same time, for a total of 10 years, and Fowler has been ordered to undergo a two-year treatment program, according to court papers.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Lindsay Whalen prosecuted the case.
A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrested Fowler on Oct. 20, 2021, at the Mobile gas station, 7005 Old Hwy. 30, in Cedar Hill. Fowler was sleeping in a stolen 1998 Chevrolet Silverado, the case’s probable-cause statement said.
When Fowler got out of the pickup, a .380 Smith and Wesson gun fell from his lap, and the deputy found a smoking device with an unknown liquid in it attached to a lanyard around Fowler’s neck, according to the report.
The deputy also found a box with 14 pills, an electronic scale with residue and $1,425 in cash inside the pickup. Surveillance video showed Fowler driving onto the gas station’s parking lot at about 1:55 a.m., the report said.