NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A man charged in a deadly shooting at a Porterdale bar has pleaded guilty just days after a jury failed to reach a verdict in the case, according to the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
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William Brown entered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in connection with the 2024 shooting death of Kyle Fowler.
The charges stem from a July 27, 2024, incident at the Porterdale Bar and Grill, where investigators say Brown fatally shot Fowler.
The case went to trial last week, beginning March 23. Prosecutors argued Brown’s actions amounted to murder and were not justified. Defense attorneys, however, claimed Brown acted in self-defense or in defense of others.
After two days of deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. A judge declared a mistrial on March 27 due to the hung jury.
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Following the mistrial, both sides continued negotiations. On April 2, Brown entered a non-negotiated guilty plea, meaning prosecutors and defense attorneys each recommended their own sentence, leaving the final decision up to the judge.
Prosecutors asked for 20 years in prison, followed by five years of probation. The defense requested a 25-year sentence with the first seven years to be served behind bars.
After hearing victim impact statements from Fowler’s family and remarks from Brown, the judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison, followed by 10 years on probation, along with special conditions.
The case was prosecuted by the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office.
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