A Lamar County Jury found 47-year old Donald Wayne McDowell guilty of aggravated robbery, stemming from a shooting in Jan. 2023, and on Wednesday, Feb. 7, sentenced him to life in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Lamar County District Attorney Gary Young said in a press release.
In Jan. 2023, McDowell and co-defendant Eddie Wilson agreed to a plan where McDowell would rob the victim in the case and keep the victim’s money.
On Jan. 29, 2023, McDowell followed the victim to different locations before cornering him at an apartment complex. McDowell pointed a gun at him and demanded money, and when the victim resisted, McDowell shot him in the face. The jurors heard from several witnesses, including the victim, who survived the shooting and spent weeks in the hospital.
During the punishment phase, the jury heard about McDowell’s felony and misdemeanor history spanning 30 years, including arson, escape, burglaries, assault, indecent exposure, and indecency with a child.
“I commend the jury for their hard work over three days. It was clear they took their job seriously and were very thorough throughout the trial process,” said Assistant DA Nick Stallings. “I also appreciate the hard work of the Paris Police Department in this case, especially Detective Brenton Middleton. The investigation involved collecting a lot of evidence from different locations, interviewing multiple witnesses, and following up on new information over the course of several months.”
The case was tried in the 6th District Court before Judge Bill Harris.
McDowell was prosecuted by Nick Stallings; he was represented by Paul Rosemergy.
McDowell must serve at least 30 years of his sentence before being eligible for parole consideration.
