James Bowman, III

By Zak Failla From Daily Voice

He was released from jail with one order: don’t hurt her again. 

But less than an hour later, police say a Waldorf man came back to the same home and brutally assaulted the same woman while she held a toddler in her arms.

A 40-year-old man is behind bars after allegedly attacking a woman twice in the same night—and striking a toddler during the second assault—just hours after being released from custody, according to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office.

Officers were called to the 4200 block of Drake Court in Waldorf around 12:52 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, for reports of a violent domestic assault. Inside, they found a woman holding a toddler, “covered in blood” with visible injuries, police said.

Deputies quickly learned that the suspect, James Bowman III, had been arrested less than six hours earlier for a domestic-related assault. In that first case, investigators said Bowman “punched the victim in the face and bit her hand.”

After his arrest, a district court commissioner released Bowman from the Charles County Detention Center on personal recognizance—with the condition that he “does not abuse the woman.”

But according to the sheriff's office, Bowman returned to the home within one hour of being released. 

This time, he allegedly forced his way inside while the woman was holding a toddler, “continued assaulting her,” and struck the child in the forehead, injuring them.

The woman managed to call 911 and barricade herself in a bedroom, but Bowman “forced the door open and continued assaulting her,” investigators said.

Both the victim and child were treated by EMS. Bowman was arrested at the scene and charged with assault and child abuse. He was held without bond following a court hearing on Monday, Nov. 10.