By AARON MUELLER
Edwardsburg Argus

CASSOPOLIS – Guy Bowen sure doesn’t know how to properly repay a favor.

On March 31, Cass County treasurer Linda Irwin went out of her way to help Bowen by visiting his home at 51621 Steininger Rd., Marcellus, and notifying him that he needed to pay his 2007 taxes by 5 p.m. that afternoon or his house would be foreclosed.

Bowen responded to the favor with threats against Irwin’s life.

On Friday at Cass County Circuit Court, judge Michael Dodge accepted a plea bargain for Bowen, a one-year jail sentence.

This came after Bowen pleaded guilty in April to charges of attempted threat of terrorism, resisting and obstructing a police officer, possession of marijuana, driving with a suspended license and unlawful use of registration plates.

The day of the offense, after Bowen threatened Irwin at his home, he called her at her office just moments before the deadline to say he would be unable to pay his taxes that day. When Irwin said he would need to pay that day, Bowen said he was coming down to her office “with guns blazing,” among other threats.

Later that day, police received a complaint of a drunk driver, who turned out to be Bowen.

After being pulled over, he then resisted police officers, and a breathalyzer test revealed a 0.05 blood alcohol level.

Prosecutor Victor Fitz said Bowen “took advantage of the good graces of the county treasurer.”

“She had no requirement to contact him. And how did he repay that kind act?” Fitz said. “With threats.”

Fitz also ripped Bowen for his marijuana use and alcohol abuse.

Defense attorney Lawrence Quigley pointed out that Bowen had no prior record of violence, save a resisting and obstructing offense 20 years ago.

“He was upset at the prospect of losing his house, and he said some things he wished he had not,” Quigley said.

Bowen was apologetic.

“I’m really sorry,” he said. “Ms. Irwin is a really nice lady.”

But he continued to deny resisting police officers and said his threats were not serious.
“I would never touch anyone,” he said. “I apologize but this got taken out of proportion.”
Dodge said no matter his intentions, Bowen’s threats had to be taken seriously.

He called Bowen’s actions “lawless and terrorizing behavior” and said if not for the plea bargain he would probably have ended up in prison.

In addition to the one-year jail sentence, Bowen is to not have contact with anyone at the Cass County Treasurer’s Office.