The husband of the Niles Township woman shot and killed Sunday has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder, according to Berrien County Prosecutor Michael Sepic.

John Benton Lewis, 49, was arraigned at the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph Wednesday on the charge of killing his wife, Carla Jean Lewis, 55.

An autopsy performed Monday morning revealed the victim had five gunshot wounds, including one to the head, which was fatal.

When police were called to the residence at 1429 Lawndale Ave. in Niles Township Sunday, Lewis told officers that two African American males had unlawfully entered his home and shot his wife.

However, the autopsy, a forensic investigation of the crime scene and witness interviews led the police to charge Lewis with first-degree premeditated murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Lewis’ bond for the murder charges was set at $1 million, with mandatory GPS monitoring. His pre-examination conference was set for Aug. 23 and his preliminary examination hearing for Aug. 29, both in Berrien County’s Niles courthouse.

Before Lewis was charged with murder, police discovered he was not in compliance with the Medical Marijuana Act, and he was charged with the manufacture of medical marijuana, a four-year felony. He was arraigned for this charge Tuesday, and the judge set the bond at $7,000, 10 percent. His pre-exam conference was set for Aug. 23 and his preliminary examination hearing was set for Aug. 29, both at 8:30 a.m. in Berrien County’s Drug Court.

Sepic emphasized that the charges are merely accusations and the defendant is innocent until proven guilty.