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By
D.C. Witness Staff
- August 19, 2018
Court
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Homicides
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Suspects
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Lance Corporal Philip Bushong was fatally stabbed by a fellow Marine in 2012.
After appealing his case, a former Marine received a shorter sentence.
In 2013, a jury found former Marine Michael Poth guilty of voluntary manslaughter for fatally stabbing Philip Bushong, 23, who was also a marine, on the 700 block of 8th Street, SE in 2012.
Poth, 26, was originally sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison. However, he was granted a new trial after appealing his case because of a juror’s misconduct. According to the Washington Post, the juror failed to notify the court that he was a registered sex-offender.
Poth pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter on July 20, three days before his new trial was scheduled to begin.
On Aug. 17, DC Superior Court Judge Craig Iscoe accepted the plea deal and sentenced Poth to 7.5 years in prison. After his prison term, Poth will be on supervised release for five years.
“I am sorry that they (the victim’s parents) lost their son,” Poth said during the hearing. “I take full responsibility for my actions.”
In her impact statement, Bushong’s fiancée noted the defendant “only recently accepted his accountability.” She also said she was concerned for Poth’s release.
“Can he be a thoughtful member of our society? Can he live outside, in our society?” she said.
Judge Iscoe also ordered Poth to undergo alcohol evaluations and treatment and attend anger management classes while in prison.
Poth will receive credit for the time he served since his sentencing in 2013.
Both the prison term and supervised release will be carried out in North Carolina, where the defendant’s family lives.