COLUMBUS, Ohio — A 19-year-old man charged in connection to the disappearance and death of 17-year-old Imperial Stewart last year has been sentenced to three years in prison, according to court documents.
Franklin County court records state that on May 17, Mi'Quel Bowles entered a guilty plea for obstructing justice. On June 14, Bowles was sentenced to three years in prison but may be eligible for release after serving two years.
Records say the state reserves the right to file additional charges if necessary.
Bowles is one of seven people charged in Stewart's disappearance and death which took place in late September 2023.
On Oct. 12, 2023, Bowles' brother, Michael Bowles, was indicted for aggravated murder, two charges of murder, aggravated robbery, abuse of a corpse and having a weapon under disability. He is one of two people charged with murder in this case.
The other individuals facing charges include:
- A 16-year-old boy — Murder, Robbery, Obstructing justice
- Tywisha Peterson — Indicted for obstructing justice
- Genee Dumas — Obstruction of official business, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest
- A 17-year-old girl — Obstruction of official business, tampering with evidence and resisting arrest
- Raymor Dumas — Indicted for tampering with evidence and obstructing justice
Stewart was reported missing from the North Linden area on Sept. 20, 2023. After nearly a two-week search, Stewart’s family said his body was found in a wooded area off Sunbury Road in northeast Columbus on Oct. 3, 2023.
Records from Franklin County Municipal Court state that Stewart was in a vehicle with a 16-year-old boy on Sept. 20 when they tried to rob Stewart of a gun he had just bought from Michael. A struggle ensued and Michael shot Stewart, according to court records.
Previous court documents say Michael’s brother Mi'Quel was shot in a Chrysler 300 during the robbery. The documents also added that the vehicle belonged to Michael.
Court documents say Tywisha Peterson, who is Michael and Mi'Quel's mother, was questioned by Columbus police on Oct. 2 where witnesses claimed they saw her speaking with Michael "after the possible murder." Police wrote in the affidavit that she allegedly took part in a conversation on how to get rid of the vehicle used in the murder.
Police later found the vehicle burned in Fairfield County.