Judge rules on retrial of Kettering man in killing of Fairmont student

A judge has denied an attempt to dismiss charges for the retrial of a Kettering man convicted of lesser charges in his murder trial for 2016 deadly shooting of a Fairmont High School student.

Kylen Gregory, now 19, can be retried on felonious assault charges on which a jury found itself deadlocked last year in the homicide of Ronnie Bowers, Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Dennis Langer ruled.

The defense’s argument “lacks merit” and is “not barred by the double jeopardy clause” of trying defendant twice on the same crime, Langer’s ruling states.

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Gregory is set to be retried May 13.

A jury in November found Gregory guilty of two counts of reckless homicide and one count of discharging a firearm. It also found itself deadlocked on five felonious assault charges in what was Kettering’s first gun-related homicide since 2007.

But Gregory’s attorneys said the retrial should not go forward.

“The jury’s finding of guilt as to the reckless homicide charge amounted to a de facto acquittal on the felonious assault charges,” according to a motion filed by defense attorney Ben Swift.

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Gregory and Bowers were both 16 at the time of the shooting, and the defendant’s case was initially heard in juvenile court before a 2017 mandatory transfer to adult court.

Gregory was indicted on — and pleaded not guilty to — two counts of murder, five counts of felonious assault and the firearms charge.

Because Gregory was convicted of charges that did not require mandatory transfers to adult court, the case will return to juvenile court, Langer has ruled.

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In that court, Gregory could face a lighter sentence, officials have said.

After a retrial on the remaining felonious assault counts, Gregory would face sentencing in adult court on all charges for which he has been convicted – with that punishment being stayed – while the case goes back to juvenile court, Langer has said.

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