Michaele Bowers sentenced to six years in prison for shooting death of J's Place chef

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — After entering a plea of no contest to voluntary manslaughter, Michaele Bowers was sentenced to six years in prison Thursday for the deadly shooting of J's Place chef Ray Ingram in 2017.

This case was brought to trial twice, both ending in mistrials. The second trial ended in March after the jury reached an impasse.

Bowers, 53, has held that she shot her longtime boyfriend, Ray Ingram, in self-defense. Bowers and her attorney claimed Ingram was abusive and had threatened to kill her the night of the shooting.

Prosecutors in the case say that Bowers shot Ingram due to his ongoing infidelity.

Ingram had a child with Bowers and a child with another woman. Prosecutors said days before the shooting, Bowers found a receipt showing he had purchased two sets of Valentine's gifts, essentially the same gift for each woman. Records show Ingram texted a picture of the receipt to Ingram.

When police arrived on the scene they found the deceased Ingram who had been shot in the neck.

Ingram was the chef and owner of J’s Place on Rosedale Highway.