A Lexington couple has been sentenced to decades behind bars for their roles in the death of 20-month-old Joshua Bowen, who was found unresponsive inside a home on Centre Parkway in 2024. Kyle Guindon received a 30-year sentence, while Briana Johnson was sentenced to 20 years.
Guindon and Johnson were arrested in 2024 after Bowen was found unresponsive at the Centre Parkway home, according to WKYT. The toddler died on July 6, 2024, as reported by LEX18. Guindon's indictment claimed he caused the toddler's death by inflicting blunt force trauma and engaging in conduct that showed extreme indifference to human life, per WKYT's report. Johnson's indictment alleged she abused the child or knowingly allowed another person to abuse him, leading to his death, the station's report states.
Guilty Pleas Came After Months of Delay
Both Guindon and Johnson pleaded guilty on June 10, according to the same WKYT account. The case had previously been delayed, with the Lexington Herald-Leader reporting that Guindon pleaded guilty in June to amended charges of first-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and criminal abuse of a child under 12, as noted by the Lexington Herald-Leader.
The exact manslaughter charge Johnson admitted to is disputed across outlets. LEX18 reported that both defendants pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter and first-degree criminal abuse, while the Herald-Leader reported that Johnson pleaded guilty to amended charges of second-degree manslaughter and criminal abuse of a child under 12 years old. Neither version has been resolved in the available reporting.
Sentences Include Consecutive and Concurrent Terms
Guindon's 30-year sentence and Johnson's 20-year sentence were confirmed by WKYT following the June plea agreements. LEX18 reported that the Commonwealth recommended two 10-year sentences for Johnson to run consecutively and that the court reserved its ruling until sentencing. LEX18 also reported that the Commonwealth recommended a five-year sentence for Guindon on an assault domestic violence charge to run concurrently with his 30-year term, with the court reserving its ruling.
The sentencing closes out a case that stretched from the toddler's death in the summer of 2024 through guilty pleas entered this past June and a sentencing hearing that had previously been postponed before finally concluding this week.
