Psychological evaluations ordered for teen who killed Fairmont student

A hearing to decide the fate of a Kettering teen convicted in the death of a Fairmont High School student in 2016 has been set in juvenile court.

The hearing to determine if Kylen Gregory’s case will stay in juvenile court or return to adult court – where he faces a longer sentence – is scheduled for Oct. 7-8, court records show.

Gregory, 19, was convicted in adult court on multiple counts – five to which he pleaded guilty – for the Sept. 6, 2016, shooting death of Ronnie Bowers, 16.

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Gregory faced up to 41 years in prison, and prosecutors sought a sentence of at least 35 years. Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Dennis Langer gave Gregory 11 years minus time served.

The October hearing will determine if Gregory is amenable to juvenile rehabilitation, court officials have said. Juvenile Court Judge Anthony Capizzi has ordered psychological evaluations from two doctors, records show.

Witnesses are also expected to called.

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Because Gregory was not convicted of murder - a charge that sent the case to adult court – his case has been returned to juvenile court. If the case stays in juvenile court, Gregory will be free on his 21st birthday, court officials have said.

Gregory testified he fired a shot Sept. 4, 2016, that two days later authorities said killed Bowers – called an “innocent bystander” by police and someone the defendant did not know.

Gregory said the shot was meant to send a signal to Bowers and his friends as the victim was driving away from a confrontation on Willowdale Avenue in what was Kettering’s first gun-related homicide since 2007.

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Gregory was convicted in November by a jury of reckless homicide and discharging a firearm on or near a prohibited premise. The jury did not find Gregory guilty of murder and deadlocked on five felonious assault counts.

Gregory pleaded guilty in April to felonious assault charges that came with lesser penalties than he would have faced if convicted in a retrial that was scheduled for May.

Gregory has been in juvenile detention since hours after the shooting. He has been held on a $1 million bond.

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