If found guilty, he could receive a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole sentence.
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Before setting bond, Judge Charles Pater noted that Kyles has two previous pending cases for participating in gang activity and a drug charge. The judge asked Kyles’ mother if she agreed to let him live at her Middletown home if he is released on bond. The mother, sitting in the front row, said “yes.”
Kyles told the judge he lived out of state with an aunt and returned to Middletown about a year ago. When the judge asked him why he was living with his aunt, Kyles said to “stay out of trouble.”
Pater said these are “very, very serious charges” and set bond at $1 million, which is the same amount set in municipal court after his arrest a day after the fatal shooting.
Evidence, including guns and a plastic bag of bullets, were found and seized by police at the teen’s residence.
Kyles confessed to the fatal shooting of Stewart, according to court documents. According to a search warrant affidavit signed by Middletown Detective Kristi Hughes, after police found Stewart dead at his home, Kyles was developed as a suspect.
At the time, Kyles was also wearing a court-ordered ankle monitor for an indictment in a drug case and for participation in a gang. Both indictments were handed down in the summer.
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Hughes said in the search warrant that “it is believed that through GPS of ankle monitor that this will confirm the series of events on the date of Michael Stewart’s death.”
Kyles was taken into custody at a Sharon Court address after detectives tracked his ankle monitor, according to court documents. Seized in a search of that residence was a counterfeit $100 bill, a cellphone, electronics and money.
Middletown police Maj. Scott Reeve said Stewart’s shooting is part of ongoing gang activity. Kyles is believed to be part of the Road Runner gang that has been involved in shootings and homicides in the city in recent years.
Two other teens have been charged by Middletown police in the homicide. A 15-year-old boy is charged with murder, burglary and robbery after his arrest on Monday night. According to the complaint filed by Middletown detectives, the Cincinnati boy conspired with others to steal marijuana and money from Stewart.
The 15-year-old and others went to the Stewart residence with a loaded gun and “(the 15-year-old) went into 812 Ninth Ave. to see if Michael Stewart was inside his house alone,” according to the complaint.
After leaving the residence, the teen met with another suspect and gave him the “OK,” according to the complaint.
That is when another suspect later identified Kyles entered the residence, shot Stewart and stole from the house, according to police.
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Another suspect, a 17-year-old boy, is also housed at the Butler County Juvenile Detention Center on the same charges of murder, robbery and burglary for the fatal shooting.
Because of the 17-year-old’s age and the seriousness of the crimes, the case is a mandatory bind-over to adult court if the juvenile court judge finds probable cause. That juvenile was also ordered to remain incarcerated at the juvenile detention center.
The 17-year-old allegedly drove the 15-year-old and Kyles to the Stewart residence and parked in an alley, according to court records.
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