A former sheriff’s deputy says one split-second police shooting turned him from a respected officer into a convicted murderer—and sent him to Texas prison for 20 years.
In this episode, Kent McGowen tells the full story of the night he served an arrest warrant on an armed woman, fired after she allegedly refused repeated commands to drop her weapon and later found himself charged with murder.
Kent explains why he believes he was railroaded by corrupt officials, how his conviction survived multiple trials and appeals, and what happened when he went from enforcing the law to fighting for his life behind bars.
He also exposes the brutal realities of the Texas prison system, including extreme heat, violence, suicide, untreated mental illness, guard misconduct and the dangers he faced as a former police officer living among inmates.
Was this a justified police shooting—or a murder? Was Kent held accountable for his actions, or sacrificed to protect a corrupt system?
Watch the full interview and decide for yourself.
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00:00 Deadly Encounter: The Incident
00:24 Introducing Kent McGowen
01:11 Life as a Cop in Texas Prisons
01:50 Horrors of Texas Prison Conditions
03:19 Survival, Food, and Suicides
05:55 First and Only Prison Fight
09:00 Wild Personalities Behind Bars
17:01 Murders in Prison
21:22 Mail, Communication, and System Abuse
23:34 Corruption and Lack of Accountability
29:16 The Shooting Incident and Background
37:11 Executing the Warrant
41:53 The Shooting and Aftermath
49:35 The Indictment and Arrest
55:21 Political Games and Legal Strategy
01:01:01 Life on Bond During Legal Battles
01:09:06 Trial, Appeals, and Corrupt Lawyers
01:18:36 Second Trial and Legal Incompetence
01:26:43 Losing Trial, Sentencing, and Prison Transfer
01:31:46 Surviving as a Cop in Prison
01:47:40 Endless Parole Denials and Family Impact
01:58:19 Final Release and Post-Prison Life
02:06:56 Ongoing Legal Battles and Activism
02:09:01 Seeking Justice and Lessons Learned
02:12:08 Innocents Behind Bars and Conclusion
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