“Former Hagerstown Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Assault, Resulting in Death of Lester Bowers”

1. Former Hagerstown man assaults man resulting in death
2. Assault case involving Former Hagerstown man ends in 6-year sentence.

Accident – death – Obituary News : Former Hagerstown Man Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Fatal Assault

A former Hagerstown man, Roy Dewhite Winston Jr., has been sentenced to six years in state prison for the assault that led to the death of an older man. Winston, 29, originally faced a manslaughter charge in the death of Lester Bowers. The incident occurred in August 2022, and Winston pleaded guilty in October to misdemeanor second-degree assault.

The sentencing took place on Thursday in Washington County Circuit Court, where Judge Brett R. Wilson handed down the six-year prison term. Wilson also gave Winston credit for the time he has already served in the Washington County Detention Center since September 10, 2022. The sentencing was delayed to allow for a pre-sentence investigation.

During the hearing, Wilson described the incident as “an act of vigilantism.” The assault occurred after Winston’s young daughter informed her parents that Bowers had made inappropriate comments to her. Winston waited on his porch for Bowers to arrive home and confronted him, ultimately punching him in the face. Bowers fell backward, hitting his head on the sidewalk.

Lester Bowers, 75, was a Vietnam veteran who had worked for UPS for 39 years before retiring. He had been working part-time at a local market in Hagerstown before his untimely death. Bowers was married for 54 years and had three children, seven grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

The assault took place on August 12, 2022, but Bowers succumbed to his injuries three weeks later. Responding to a report of an unconscious male on September 2, 2022, Hagerstown Police discovered Bowers and attempted life-saving measures. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the investigation, it was revealed that Bowers had been assaulted by Winston on the day of the incident. Bowers had gotten out of his vehicle when he was confronted by Winston, who accused him of making inappropriate comments to his daughter. Bowers apologized, explaining that it was said in a joking manner, but Winston proceeded to punch him in the face.

Bowers suffered lacerations above his left eye and to the back of his head as a result of the assault. He sought medical attention later that night when the cut above his eye wouldn’t stop bleeding. Further testing revealed significant internal injuries, including uncontrollable bleeding in four areas of his brain. Bowers was taken off his blood thinner medication, which made him susceptible to blood clots that ultimately caused his death.

During the hearing, Winston expressed remorse for his actions and acknowledged that he had made a mistake. He apologized to Bowers’ family, acknowledging that he was “childish” and “wrong.” Winston’s defense attorney, Craig Houpt, emphasized that the incident was a tragic outcome of an argument that escalated with a single punch. Houpt described Winston as a concerned father who had some addiction issues but was working towards improving his life.

Bowers’ wife, Rhonda, and son-in-law, Michael Pearson, addressed the court, sharing the devastating impact of the assault on their family. Rhonda presented photos of her husband’s injuries, highlighting the extent of the damage caused by the assault. Pearson emphasized the significant physical disparity between Winston and his father-in-law, describing Bowers as a “little old man” who was grossly outmatched by Winston.

Assistant State’s Attorney Chris McCormack informed the court of Winston’s prior criminal record, including his involvement in a home invasion that resulted in a conspiracy to commit robbery charge. It was revealed that Winston was on probation for that case at the time of the assault against Bowers.

Judge Wilson acknowledged that while Winston may not have intended for Bowers to die, he was aware that he was assaulting an elderly individual. He recognized the tragic loss of life and sentenced Winston to serve 25% of the six-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Winston could potentially be eligible for parole later this year.

The case has been described by Winston’s attorney as a tragedy with unintended consequences. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of controlling one’s actions and considering the potential consequences before acting..

– Former Hagerstown man assaults man resulting in death
– Hagerstown man sentenced to 6 years for fatal assault.