COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A teenage boy accused of plotting a mass shooting at an Ohio high school has been sentenced to four years in prison.
An adult-court judge in Columbus on Thursday sentenced 17-year-old John Staley III, who earlier pleaded no contest to a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.
Authorities say Staley was suspended from Hilliard Davidson High School in 2016 after a student heard him on a school bus discussing a shooting plot, which was never carried out.
Prosecutors say Staley created school diagrams, tried to recruit other students and wrote down weapons and ammunition needed. Authorities say his electronic devices contained Nazi and racist information and sites glorifying school shooters.
Defense attorney Steve Palmer contends the case shouldn't have been in adult court and they'll appeal the juvenile court ruling that sent it there.
