A Newton County man has been ordered to spend 15 years in prison, followed by a decade on probation, for a fatal shooting inside Porterdale Bar & Grill, wrapping up a case that stalled last week when a jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, a Newton County judge sentenced William Kadeem Brown after he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the killing of 68-year-old Kyle Fowler during an altercation at the Broad Street bar on July 27, 2024. The plea and sentence came just days after the jury in Brown’s trial deadlocked.
Plea And Sentence
According to a press release from the Alcovy Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, Brown pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. The plea was non-negotiated, meaning there was no agreed sentencing recommendation and the final decision was left to the judge. The court ultimately imposed 15 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation.
How The Case Unfolded
Authorities say the shooting happened on July 27, 2024, at Porterdale Bar & Grill on Broad Street, and the victim was later identified as Kyle Fowler of Covington. Earlier coverage of the case, including Brown’s arrest and his original charges of murder and aggravated assault, was detailed in 68-year-old man fatally shot at Porterdale bar. During last week’s trial, prosecutors argued the evidence supported a murder conviction, while Brown’s defense team maintained he acted in self-defense.
DA's Statement And Victim Impact
District Attorney Randy McGinley said the case showed how a "needless escalation" can turn deadly, and he thanked the prosecutors and investigators who handled the investigation and trial, according to the DA’s release. Before the judge announced the sentence, victim-impact statements from Fowler’s family were read in court, and Brown addressed the court as well.
Legal Notes
The plea was described as non-negotiated in court filings, meaning prosecutors and defense lawyers each pushed for different punishments and left the final call to the judge, FOX 5 Atlanta reported. The District Attorney’s office said the state had sought a 20-year term, while the defense urged a different outcome. Officials have not publicly released the specific special conditions tied to Brown’s probation.
With Tuesday’s sentence, the trial-level chapter of the case is closed. Brown will eventually move from prison to supervised probation, and for Fowler’s relatives and the Porterdale community, the judge’s ruling brings a formal conclusion to a killing that cast a long shadow over the small Broad Street business district.
