Gulfport man faces up to 25 years for home burglary

A Gulfport man was found guilty Friday of a home burglary and will be sentenced next month.

He faces up to 25 years in prison.

District Attorney Joel Smith said Troy Michael Bowerman, 25, was convicted less than an hour after the jury received the case in the two-day trial.

During the trial, Gulfport Police officers testified that after responding to a report of a home burglary on Three Rivers Road on May 2, 2013. According to the victim in the case, Bowerman approached the residence and requested water. When the victim agreed to give him water, Bowerman forced his way into the residence and physically assaulted the victim.

A bloodied bandage from the suspect fell during the assault and DNA from the bandage was found to be a match to Bowerman.

He was arrested four days after the assault.

Bowerman testified at trial that he was at the victim's house and had no plans to assault the victim until he was startled, which spawned a phychotic attack.

Bowerman also has a previous conviction for a 2008 armed robbery.

This story was originally published November 14, 2015 at 11:54 AM with the headline "Gulfport man faces up to 25 years for home burglary ."