'Devil hit her with a gun': Man sentenced to 22 years for beating ex-girlfriend in front of grandchildren
A woman was spending time with her three grandchildren, ages 4, 3 and 1, with the front door slightly open on July 10 when her ex-boyfriend barged into her house, beat her in front of the young children and accused her of cheating on him with his friends, according to a Kern County Sheriff’s Office report submitted to Kern County Superior Court.
As soon as deputies arrived at the victim’s home after the incident, according to the report, the woman's 4-year-old grandson spontaneously told deputies what he saw: “A boy come up and got a gun in his pocket and bang her on the head. His name is Devil. He got a gun.”
The 4-year-old kept referring to the defendant as Devil while speaking to deputies, saying: “Devil hit her with a gun and I saw it.”
Found guilty of beating his ex-girlfriend, Dwight McDowell, 61, of Inglewood was sentenced to 22 years in prison Wednesday in Kern County Superior Court. McDowell was found guilty of partner abuse, assault with a firearm on a person, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery and criminal threats.
McDowell appeared in court Wednesday with his left arm in a sling and a cane. Judge Charles Brehmer told McDowell he could remain seated during the sentencing.
According to the police report, the victim told deputies she and McDowell dated for three years before she broke up with him. After McDowell barged into the victim’s home, he began punching her in the head and when the victim kicked McDowell, she told deputies, a gun fell out of his pocket.
McDowell then began beating the victim with the gun before pointing it at her and demanding her jewelry. The victim took off eight toe rings, one anklet and one necklace to give to McDowell while he threatened to shoot her, according to the report.
According to a news release from the Kern County District Attorney’s Office, McDowell attempted to dissuade the victim from testifying, but she testified anyway.
