Man in killing of teen last September pleads guilty, sentenced

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One of the teenagers accused in the killing of a teen during a gun transaction last September has been sentenced after pleading guilty. Mi'quel D. Bowles, 19, plead guilty Friday to a third-degree obstructing justice charge in the shooting death of 17-year-old Imperial Stewart in late September 2023. Mi'quel Bowles was [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- One of the teenagers accused in the killing of a teen during a gun transaction last September has been sentenced after pleading guilty.

Mi'quel D. Bowles, 19, plead guilty Friday to a third-degree obstructing justice charge in the shooting death of 17-year-old Imperial Stewart in late September 2023.

Mi'quel Bowles was sentenced to three years in prison, with a 257-day time served credit. He will also be subject to up to two years of probation when he finishes his prison sentence.

Stewart was reported missing on Sept. 20, last being seen in the North Liden section of the city. His body was found in a field on Oct. 3.

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

In addition to Mi'quel Bowles, seven other people have been charged in the 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 weapon under disability.
• 16-year-old (at the time of arrest) male -- murder and obstruction of justice charges
• Tywisha Peterson, 40 -- one charge of obstructing justice. She is the mother of Michael and Mi'quel Bowles.
• Michael R. Bowles Jr., 37 -- one charge of tampering with evidence. He pleaded guilty in December 2023 but has yet to be 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.
• 17-year-old (at the time of arrest) female -- one count each of obstruction of official business, tampering with evidence, and resisting arrest. She admitted to the obstruction charge on Feb. 22.

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