Man Pleads Guilty in Porterdale Bar Shooting, Sentenced to 15 Years

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — A man has pleaded guilty in connection with a fatal shooting at a Porterdale bar following a mistrial in the case, officials said.

On March 31, 2026, William Kadeem Brown pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony in the shooting death of Kyle Fowler.

The charges stem from an incident on July 27, 2024, at the Porterdale Bar and Grill, where Brown fatally shot Fowler.

The case had previously gone to trial beginning March 23, but after two days of deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. A mistrial was declared on March 27 due to a hung jury.

Following the mistrial, prosecutors and defense attorneys continued discussions before Brown entered a non-negotiated plea, allowing both sides to argue sentencing before the judge.

Prosecutors sought a sentence of 20 years in prison followed by five years of probation, while the defense requested 25 years with the first seven years to be served in prison.

After hearing victim impact statements from Fowler’s family and statements from Brown, the judge sentenced Brown to 15 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation, along with additional special conditions.

The case was prosecuted by the Newton County District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the Porterdale Police Department, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.

“Mixing guns and a needless escalation of an argument has led to the loss of Kyle Fowler’s life and numerous years in prison for Mr. Brown,” District Attorney Randy McGinley said. “I hope this serves as a reminder that anger and split-second bad decisions can lead to horrible and tragic consequences.”