Perrysburg man guilty of sexual battery

8/15/2003

BOWLING GREEN - A Perrysburg man was found guilty of sexual battery Wednesday night for assaulting a 20-year-old college student he claimed he mistook for her twin.

After a two-day trial, a jury returned the verdict in Wood County Common Pleas Court against Mathew Stowell, 23. He was acquitted on charges of gross sexual imposition and burglary.

According to Chief Assistant Prosecutor Gary Bishop, Stowell said he thought the victim was her fraternal twin sister whom he had dated. Mr. Bishop argued Stowell had known the sisters for six years and that the two had noticeable differences, including their size, height, hairstyle, and style of dress.

Stowell, who faces up to five years in prison, is to be sentenced Oct. 6 by Judge Alan Mayberry.