Login | July 17, 2025
Man’s guilty plea correctly accepted, appeals panel rules
KEITH ARNOLD
Special to the Legal News
Published: March 7, 2025
A Franklin County appellate panel affirmed the conviction and sentence of a southeast Columbus man who was implicated in the activities surrounding the disappearance and killing of a teenager in 2023.
The three-judge panel of the Tenth District Court of Appeals held that the lower court, in accordance with Crim.R. 11, correctly accepted 19-year-old Miquel D. Bowles’ guilty plea to a third-degree felony obstructing justice offense.
Appellate review determined Bowles’ plea was made knowingly, intelligently and voluntarily.
“… The transcript reveals that the trial court first asked Bowles his full name, age, level of education, whether he could read and understand English and whether he was under the influence of any alcohol or drugs, …” Tenth District Judge Michael Mentel wrote for the panel. “Finally, the trial court informed Bowles that if he went to trial and was convicted, he would have the option or opportunity to appeal his conviction. Bowles repeatedly indicated his understanding of the change of plea and the proceedings, and he expressly waived the various rights as explained by the trial court. …”
According to case background, 17-year-old Imperial Stewart was last seen on Sept. 20, 2023, when he got into a black car registered to Bowles. The same day, Bowles was dropped off at the hospital in the same black car with a gunshot wound.
On Sept. 25, 2023, the vehicle was discovered in a field, having been set on fire.
Law enforcement officers met with Bowles on Oct. 2, 2023, at which time Bowles denied being in the car or having any knowledge of Stewart, summary provided.
Bowles also claimed to have no knowledge of what had happened to him or the location of his shooting.
Stewart was found Oct. 3, 2023, and identified as a victim of a homicide.
A grand jury indicted Bowles Oct. 6, 2023, on a felony count of obstructing justice.
According to the summary, Bowles subsequently entered a plea of not guilty and his trial counsel filed a request for discovery.
The prosecutor provided Bowles with discovery materials on Nov. 13, 2023, and filed supplemental discovery through June 2024.
On May 17, 2024, Bowles entered a plea of guilty to obstructing justice.
In a second assignment of error, Bowles claimed that the trial court erred in its imposition of a 36-month sentence, which was not supported by the evidence and, therefore, contrary to law.
“The record reflects that the trial court, after considering the principles and purposes of felony sentencing and all the relevant sentencing factors, determined that a term of 36 months in prison was appropriate,” Mentel wrote. “At the sentencing hearing, the trial court explained that the 36-month sentence was warranted as Bowles was on supervision at the time of the offense, it was a homicide-connected offense, and Bowles’ lies about the incident was part of the reason that the body was not found for about 13 days.”
The panel found that while the trial court imposed a maximum sentence, it was not contrary to law as it fell within the statutory range for the offense.
“It is apparent that there is no clear and convincing evidence that the 36-month sentence was not supported in the record or that it was contrary to law,” the appellate judge wrote.
Tenth District judges Laurel Beatty Blunt and Kristin Boggs joined Mentel’s decision.
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