Lady’s Island man sentenced to prison after harassing his ex-girlfriend and her family
A 48-year-old Lady’s Island man was sentenced to five years imprisonment Thursday for harassing his ex-girlfriend after their break-up, according to a 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office news release.
Jason John Owen was found guilty of first-degree harassment after he “went to great and unrelenting lengths to torment (the woman) and her family,” prosecutor Julie Butner said in the release.
After the victim ended the relationship with Owen in 2016 and moved to another state, Owen drove more than 600 miles to her new home with roses, pictures, and cards, the release said.
Once he returned to the Beaufort area, he continued the harassment by sending her mail, hacking her email and bank accounts, and calling her and her family, the solicitor’s office said. He also left roses outside of the woman’s mother’s home in Beaufort when the woman was in town visiting.
Owen was initially charged with stalking and was on probation when he was arrested. He has previously been convicted of larceny, driving under the influence and first-degree harassment.
The Solicitor’s Office and its nonprofit partners operate the 14th Circuit Victims Services Center, which can arrange shelter, counseling, legal assistance and other services of domestic violence, sexual assault and similar crimes. Services are available even to those whose abusers have not been charged with a crime.
