03/26/2026
452nd District Attorney Secures 40-Year Sentence Against McCulloch County Man For Assault Family Violence
Brady, Texas. 3-23-2026
On February 19, 2026, following a contested hearing in Brady, 56-year-old Defendant Dwight Dean Bowyer, Jr., was adjudicated guilty of the felony offense of Assault Family Violence, a third degree felony, and sentenced to serve 40 years’ confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice—Institutional Division. Visiting Judge Steve Ellis (Brownwood) presided over the contested hearing, with Assistant District Attorney Cheryl Sione representing the State.Mr. Bowyer was indicted for conduct that occurred on November 6, 2023, when he hit a female member of his household in the face, causing her to fall and injure her face. The conduct occurred in a residence located in Brady, Texas.The range of punishment of Mr. Bowyer’s felony charge was enhanced when he was indicted because the defendant was previously convicted of Assault Family Violence in Mason County, Texas, in 2013 and again in 2020, and felony Tampering with Evidence in Williamson County, Texas, in 2016. Because of his previous felony convictions, Mr. Bowyer’s range of punishment was enhanced, requiring a minimum sentence of 25 years in prison to a maximum of 99 years or life imprisonment if he was found guilty.The defendant originally submitted evidence of his admission of guilt and acknowledgment of the enhancements to the range of punishment if adjudicated guilty, and he received 10 years’ probation pursuant to an Order of Deferred Adjudication in August 2025. Mr. Bowyer violated several conditions to his probation, resulting in the State pursuing revocation of probation and an adjudication of guilt.At the hearing regarding his probation violations and the State’s request to convict and sentence the defendant, the District Attorney’s office presented multiple witnesses and uncontroverted testimony.Following the court’s assessment of 40-years’ confinement, District Attorney Tonya Spaeth Ahlschwede stated, “Our office prosecutes people who hurt members of their families. Consequences have actions, and we stand up and fight for victims of crime. This sentence serves to reinforce every person in our community that none of us tolerates this type of behavior.” She also thanked law enforcement and the community supervision department for all their hard work.