A man charged with murder in the death of his brother at Olmstead Homes pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on Monday.
Berques Rashad Owens, 33, has been in jail since his capture after a brief manhunt following the Aug. 17, 2017 death of Michael Dykes.
In an argument between the two half-brothers that developed over a disputed gun sale, both men fired guns, but authorities think Owens fired first, Assistant District Attorney DeShala Dixon told the court. Dykes was shot in the leg and died.
Defense attorney Daniel Franck said Owens has a 14-year-old daughter and wanted to take responsibility for his actions. “I apologize and take responsibility for what happened,” Owens told the court.
Owens was the victim in a bloody shank fight at the Richmond County Jail that sent Jahden Lewis, 19, to prison for 15 years in August.
Owens had a prior felony conviction for armed robbery and spent eight years in prison prior to his 2016 release.
He also faced charges of assaulting a jailer and possession of a shank and synthetic narcotics at the jail.
Richmond County Superior Court Judge Jesse Stone sentenced Owens to 15 years for voluntary manslaughter, with credit for time he’s already served.
Stone gave Owens five years each for the obstruction charge and possession of a shank and three years for the drug charge. All are to be served concurrently with the 15 years followed by five years on probation.
Stone said conditions of Owens’ probation include random drug and alcohol screening, being evaluated for substance abuse, a curfew, a Fourth Amendment waiver to allow searches at all times and possessing no deadly weapons.
Owens’ mother, who was going to be a witness at his trial, said she wanted the additional condition that he have no contact with her.
