Former Marine Pleads Guilty To 2012 Murder

By D.C. Witness Staff - July 20, 2018
Appeal | Court | Homicides | Suspects |

After appealing his case, a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps is scheduled to receive a shorter sentence after pleading guilty to a fatal stabbing.

Michael Poth pled guilty July 20 to voluntary manslaughter. According to his plea agreement, Poth could receive a sentence of up to seven and a half years in prison. In 2013, he was initially sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for voluntary manslaughter while armed for stabbing Philip Bushong, who was a lance corporal in the Marines, on the 700 block of 8th Street, SE. Poth was a private first class before the incident. 

Lance Corporal Philip Bushong was fatally stabbed by a fellow Marine in 2012.

Bushong, 23, called Poth, 26, a “boot,” which is a slang term used to identify an inexperienced military recruit. Poth considered the term derogatory. Poth called Bushong a “faggot,” and after a verbal altercation, stabbed Bushong with a pocket knife. According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the men did not know each other. 

After serving his term, Poth will also be required to serve five additional years on supervised release. The judge said Poth would receive credit for time he’s already served since his sentencing in 2013.

Poth’s case was reopened after a juror failed to disclose that he was a registered sex offender. In light of the violation, Poth appealed the conviction and received a new trial. Poth accepted the plea days before his July 23 trial was scheduled to begin. 

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 17.