Kettering teen's death: Court reversal has 'rare' impact on case

An Ohio Supreme Court’s reversal of its own December ruling about transferring juvenile cases to adult court is a “rare” circumstance, according to a local court administrator.

The state court’s reversal last month was especially uncommon because it came during a Kettering murder case hearing held because of the justices’ December decision that mandatory juvenile transfers were unconstitutional, said Montgomery County Juvenile Court Administrator James Cole.

“What is a little bit different here is you are midstream during the actual amenability hearing,” he said. “It’s just a little bit different that you’re in mid hearing when this decision comes out.”

The Ohio Supreme Court’s December ruling required an amenability hearing for youth defendants. This included the murder charges against 17-year-old Kylen Jamal Gregory, who prosecutors had filed documents in October to try as an adult for the fatal Kettering shooting of Fairmont High School student Ronnie Bowers in September.

Gregory’s hearing started May 24 and was continued until July 7. In late May, the supreme court reversed its earlier ruling, prompting prosecutors last week to again seek an immediate and mandatory transfer to adult court.

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About the Author

Nick Blizzard

Nick Blizzard is a staff writer for the Dayton Daily News. He is a graduate of Stebbins High School who earned a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and its E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Nick is a Riverside native and has been a journalist in the Dayton area for more than 20 years.