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Ex-Fairborn football star’s killer gets 15 years to life in prison

The sentencing is for the second man convicted in the beating death of Christopher Kernich

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By Elijah Turan, Staff Writer Updated 10:14 AM Thursday, June 24, 2010

DAYTON — Ronald Kelly, convicted murderer of Fairborn-native Christopher Kernich, was sentenced Tuesday, June 22, in a Portage County courtroom to 15 years to life in prison.

Kelly, 20, is the second man sentenced in the fatal Nov. 15 beating of Kernich, 23. Adrian Barker, Kelly’s co-defendant and classmate from the University of Akron, received the same sentence in a separate trial last month.

Kernich’s father, John, testified at the sentencing hearing, describing the pain he felt on Father’s Day without his son.

“I just want everyone to know that that one hurt real bad,” he said, tears streaming down his face, according to the (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.

Kelly and Barker, both of Shaker Heights, were convicted of murder and felonious assault after pummeling Kernich with their fists and feet following an early morning argument at Kent. Both were drunk.

Kernich suffered severe head trauma, slipped into a coma, and died six days later. He was a senior at Kent State University.

His friends, family and educators described him as friendly and talented. The community held vigils while Kernich clung to life.

“The walk into that room to see Chris, hooked up to all of the machines and fighting for his life, was the second worst day of my life,’’ Katie Malone, Kernich’s close friend, told the Akron Beacon Journal.

Although Kelly was convicted through DNA evidence and witness testimony, he said he will contest the conviction and sentence.

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