Man in September Teen Murder Pleads Guilty, Sentenced

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

1 1 minute read

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — One of the teens accused of murdering a teenager during a gun deal last September has been sentenced after pleading guilty.

Mi'quel D. Bowles, 19, pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree obstruction of justice for the shooting death of Imperial Stewart, 17, in late September 2023.

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Mi'quel Bowles was sentenced to three years in prison, with credit for 257 days in prison. He will also be subject to probation for up to two years at the end of his prison sentence.

Stewart was reported missing on September 20, last seen in the city's North Liden neighborhood. His body was found in a field on October 3.

Court records indicate Stewart attempted to buy a gun from Michael Bowles, Mi'quel's brother, while he was inside a car. Michael Bowles then allegedly shot Stewart when a 16-year-old boy in the car tried to steal the gun.

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In addition to Mi'quel Bowles, seven other people have been indicted for this crime:

Michael Bowles, 20 – one count of aggravated murder, two counts of murder and one count each of aggravated robbery, abuse of a corpse and disabling weapon.
Male, 16 years old (at time of arrest) — charges of murder and obstruction of justice
Tywisha Peterson, 40 – one count of obstruction of justice. She is the mother of Michael and Mi'quel Bowles.
Michael R. Bowles Jr., 37 – one count of tampering with evidence. He pleaded guilty in December 2023 but has not yet been sentenced.
Geene Dumas, 41 – one charge each of tampering with evidence and obstructing justice.
Raymor Dumas, 44 – one charge each of tampering with evidence and obstructing justice.
Female, 17 years old (at time of arrest) – one count each of obstructing official business, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest. She admitted the obstruction charge on February 22.

Michael Bowles, Peterson, Geene and Raymor Dumas all had pretrial hearings in Franklin County Common Pleas Court Friday. All have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges.

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