Cross Lanes computer exec Martin R. Bowling was an expert at creating “buzz” and promoting people — including himself — on the Internet.
So when news broke earlier this week that Bowling, chief technical officer at Comar Inc. and Vec3,  had been sentenced to three years in state prison on computer fraud charges, many people who knew Bowling just figured it was part of some elaborate hoax he concocted.
Bowling’s supporters called and e-mailed the Gazette yesterday, questioning — and insisting, in some cases — that the Bowling story was a hoax.
Well, we’re here to tell — and show — you this wasn’t a hoax. Here are the documents filed in Bowling’s criminal case file in Kanawha County Circuit Court (thanks to Gazette reporter Ken Ward Jr. for scanning and uploading them.)
And here’s a sampling of messages posted about Bowling yesterday on Twitter.com, a social networking service. Bowling had more than 1,300 followers on Twitter before his downfall. Â Â (And no, Bowling doesn’t work at the Gazette).
Hearing all the @martinbowling rumors. Scammer? Jail? Wow. Just
wow. Is this twitterbait or something? Seems unreal
Re: @martinbowling – I’m still not going to believe it. I love that
dude and he’s crafty and well connected. I’m not sold.
@martinbowling, anyone else wondering when @lyndoman got a
staff job with the Charleston Gazette?
@martinbowling – this is a hoax… right? please say it’s a big
elaborate joax?
The whole @martinbowling thing has thrown me for a loop. He’s
always been a good friend & supporter, just can’t get my head round it
WTF happened to @martinbowling? That’s either the best early April
Fools Prank I’ve ever seen or some bad hoodoo!
I figured it out about Martin Bowling – just can’t decide if it’s a
hoax or not . . . damn SEO’s and their link bait!
sure does — if someone will tweet this is an elaborate hoax, makes
MUCH more sense
Ok, so I’m still somewhat skeptical that this whole thing isn’t a
hoax but this has to be the definition of irony right?
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This is a harsh sentence for a first-time, non-violent offender who appears to have cooperated immediately when confronted. also, Judge Walker is not known as a judge unwilling to show leniency when warranted.
So, why a prison sentence? Maybe because a felony sentencing hearing is not an occasion to be treated as a social networking opportunity where one aggrandizes one’s accomplishments.
A motion to reconsider the sentence can be filed. It might then be a good idea to forego the boasts about a “national reputation†and the number Twitter friends and avoid coming across as a self-absorbed, arrested adolescent who doesn’t perceive a little thing like stealing thousands of dollars as a big deal in light of his self-proclaimed status. that approach leaves a judge (or any neutral observer) with the impression the boy is either a BS artist of the highest order because he so embellishes his accomplishments or, in the alternative, makes the stealing that much worse because such a “brilliant†kid could obviously provide himself with the lifestyle to which he feels entitled by working rather than stealing.
It may be Walker will be receptive to modifying the sentence if Bowling demonstrates he understands the wrongfulness of his conduct and is sorry for something other than being caught Walker may have felt he just didn’t get it yet and a harsh initial sentence would be needed to wipe the smirk off his face and help him grow up.
What happened to Mr. Bones, Thumbelina, Mac, and Cheese??? Cat lovers everywhere want to know!
The cats are fine. I’ve known Marty for 14 years and the cats are with exactly who they should be. It’s private so I won’t say more. To the former poster, Marty is a hard worker, wouldn’t smirk at a judge, and deserves a lighter sentence.
I think he should have known better. This is a trust issue. He could have ruined the lives of the people whose cards were stolen. He is not one of those people that is hurting for anything in his life. This was just a case of pure greed, and greed deserves to be punished. He apparently didn’t take into account the fact that the people that he stole from now have to rebuild their reputations as far as their credit is concerned. He is old enough to know right from wrong. Honestly, I think that three years is a slap on the wrist. I personally, wouldn’t want him to handle my business. Did he even think about what consequences this could have for the others that he works with? This could ruin the business and lives of those that had enough faith in him, in the beginning, to start a business with him. Did he even consider the long term, and possibly, long reaching fallout from his little “lapse in judgment”?
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