Case continued again for teen charged in Middletown murder

The case of a 17-year-old facing multiple charges for the shooting death of a Middletown man in October has been continued again, for the fourth time, in Butler County Common Pleas Court.

Camron Pawlowski, who is being tried as an adult, is charged with murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, felonious assault, and having weapons under disability. The charges also carry a specification of participating in a criminal gang at the time of the alleged offenses.

MORE: Police: Middletown murder suspect tracked with ankle monitor he was wearing for 2 other indictments

He is one of three people charged in the shooting death of Michael Stewart II, who was killed in his Ninth Avenue home.

At a December arraignment in Butler County Common Pleas Court, Pawlowski pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Since then, the case has been continued on Dec. 17, Jan. 21 and Tuesday. Pawlowski is scheduled to be back in Judge Charles Pater’s courtroom on Feb. 11.

Attorney Jeremy Evans said after today’s brief hearing the discovery or evidence is still “trickling in” from the prosecution and there have been discussions about a possible resolution to the case.

Pawlowski remains housed in the Butler County Jail.

During a November 2019 hearing in juvenile court, Middletown detectives said Stewart, 35, was known to deal marijuana and was a member of the “All State” gang.

“We have two major gangs in Middletown that have been fighting for several years,” Detective Steve Winters said.

He added he has investigated several homicides tied to the gang violence. The rival Middletown gang is the Road Runners. Middletown detective Kristi Hughes testified about Pawlowski’s alleged involvement in that gang.

MORE: Court docs: Third teen charged in Middletown murder made sure victim was home alone

Cameron Kyles, 18, who police say is the shooter, is awaiting trial after being indicted for aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, felonious assault and having weapons under disability. He is also scheduled to be back in common pleas court on Feb. 11.

A 15-year-old boy, the third co-defendant, was indicted In December. The boy pleaded “true” to the charge of murder in Butler County Juvenile Court. Prosecutors requested the teen’s case be transferred to adult court, but in exchange for the plea, the case will remain in juvenile court and burglary and robbery charges were dismissed.

The teen is scheduled to be sentenced March 4.

Winters testified that through interviews police determined Pawlowski and Kyles had been in juvenile detention together and were planning the robbery incident.

Pawlowski drove to Stewart’s residence and parked in the alley and the 15-year-old went inside to make sure Stewart’s friends were not with him, Winters said.

Then Kyles was given a gun by Pawlowski and went into the house, and four shots were fired, investigators said. Surveillance video in the house captured the shooter wearing distinctive clothing and walking toward Stewart with a gun, then taking items from Stewart’s body and the house, Winters said.

Winters said a search of Pawlowski’s Middletown residence turned up a bag of marijuana, ammunition for a 9mm gun, clothing that the shooter was wearing in the video and counterfeit money, including some spotted with what police believe is blood.

About 20 feet from the Pawlowski residence, police found what they believe to be the murder weapon wrapped in a shirt and covered with brush, Winters said.

MORE: Teen pleads guilty to murder in Middletown shooting death

About the Author