MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX- On Monday, August 5, District Attorney’s Office prosecutors Ryan Fuller and Cassandra Marchesani selected a jury for the offense of Assault Family Violence with a Prior Conviction. Following jury selection, ADA’s Fuller and Marchesani began presenting testimony from multiple deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office who responded to a domestic violence call in the late night hours of January 19, 2023.

Deputies recounted how they met with the victim, the wife of the defendant, who appeared to be distraught and had multiple visible injuries to her face and body. As a result of the thorough investigation performed by the Sheriff’s Office, deputies determined that the defendant had assaulted the victim. Due to a prior conviction for family violence, deputies charged Stowe with a third-degree felony.

The jury then heard from the victim herself. During her testimony, the victim described how she endured a six-year-long abusive relationship with the defendant, which involved years of physical and verbal abuse, many instances of which were never reported to law enforcement. The jury also learned that the defendant had multiple arrests and previous charges for Domestic Violence. Lastly, the jury heard from the District Attorney Victim Assistance Coordinator, Mrs. Amy Doss, who was able to educate the jury on the dynamics of domestic violence cases, including the behavior of domestic violence victims and the mental anguish they face. The jury quickly found Stowe guilty.

During punishment proceedings, prosecutors presented evidence that Stowe has twice been to prison for felony charges, including Violation of a Protective Order in a Family Violence case. The jury heard from the victim, who described in further detail the trauma that she and her family have experienced because of the defendant’s repeated acts of violence. Additionally, the jury heard evidence of the defendant’s criminal history, which dates back more than thirty years. After deliberation, the jury returned a life sentence.

Assistant District Attorney Ryan Fuller said, “Michael Stowe used fear and intimidation to control his victim. These brutal tactics worked for years, but thankfully the bravery of our victim and the service of our jurors combined together to end his reign of terror.”

District Attorney Brett Ligon said, “A Montgomery County jury revealed Stowe for who he is-a coward who beats up women and has done so for years. He received the full measure of justice that he and others have received from our community when it has had enough. He earned his life sentence and the jury delivered it as a message to him and everyone else who beats and abuses innocent victims.”