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Brown-Fowler
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — A 34-year-old man was sentenced to 54 months (4 ½ years) to 10 years in prison in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, Aug. 3, in connection to the death of a 7-month-old boy who was his girlfriend’s son.
Devin Austin Brown-Fowler pleaded no contest to second-degree child abuse, June 8.
Charges are still pending against the child’s mother, 27-year-old Elizabeth LynnLanor Hogan, said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon.
Judge Susan K. Sniegowski gave Brown-Fowler credit for 255 days served in jail, according to court records. Hogan, who remains lodged in the Oceana County Jail on $25,000/cash/surety bond, is scheduled for a final pretrial, Aug. 10. She is scheduled for a jury trial, Oct. 6-9.
Hogan is charged with multiple counts of child abuse in connection to the death of Maverick Lyle Bouck.
The Oceana County’s Sheriff’s Office investigated the baby boy’s death that occurred the evening of May 4, 2025 in the 9000 block of S. 192nd Avenue in Greenwood Township, said Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast.
Hogan and Brown-Fowler, who both have the same Hartford, Mich. address, were each charged with one count of second-degree child abuse, third-degree child abuse and fourth-degree child abuse. The second and third-degree child abuse charges against Brown-Fowler were dismissed.
The maximum penalty for second-degree child abuse is 10 years in prison; third-degree is two years in prison; and fourth-degree child abuse is a misdemeanor that carries a one-year maximum, said Prosecutor Bizon.
“The defendant was charged with child abuse, second degree; child abuse, third degree; and child abuse, fourth degree,” said Bizon. “Counts two and three are lesser included offenses of the larger cognate offense. They are not based on three different acts or incidents. He could not be convicted of more than one with the evidence and theory we have. By pleading to the highest charge, the lower charges necessarily are dismissed. The defendant did plead to the highest charge and is receiving a sentence consistent with the state-enacted guidelines that is also consistent with the statutorily-required indeterminate sentence—all sentences to prison must contain a minimum and statutory maximum.”
Hogan
When asked why the couple were not being charged with murder or manslaughter, Bizon said, “Murder and manslaughter charges include an element of intent related to desired outcomes. The evidence does not support such a conclusion.”
The child’s father and grandmother made “appropriate and moving victim impact statements” during Monday’s sentencing hearing, said Bizon.
“My office still needs to remain reserved in public comment due to the possibility of a trial for the co-defendant. I want to thank detectives (Mark) Hiddema and (Donnie) Hansen for their hard work on this case. I truly appreciate the time and energy they have put forward to pursue an appropriate serious felony and at the same time remaining professional and aware of what this case was not. I want to thank my staff for helping to coordinate a lot of professional witnesses and managing the victims’ rights. Thank you to Dr. Rudy Ochs, the county medical examiner, who spent time giving his medical advice and working with the team to identify the correct and most serious charges,” said the prosecutor.
“I also very much appreciate the judge in this case—addressing the evidence and accurately and clearly identifying why this case is a child abuse case and not a homicide.”
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