Hamilton teen may face adult charges in killing of father
HAMILTON — A Butler County juvenile courtroom was filled with tears Friday morning as a 14-year-old Hamilton girl, who allegedly picked up a 9 mm handgun, loaded it and shot her father in the head, killing him, sat at a table next to her attorney.
When Judge Kathleen Romans announced that Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser had filed a motion requesting that the teen’s case be moved to adult court, several family members broke down.
The Hamilton teen, who is charged with aggravated murder in the Feb. 23 shooting, appeared in court two days after the funeral for her 71- year- old father, James Allen Ponder.
Under Ohio law, a 14- year- old is not automatically tried as an adult when charged with serious crimes. It is considered discretionary and will be determined by the court. The charge would be a first- degree felony if she was tried as an adult, court officials said.
The girl called 911 on Feb. 23 and said she had shot her father in their home in the 1200 block of Millville Road. Prosecutors added gun specification charges to the case and said she used a high-powered handgun in the shooting.
The teen’s attorney, Matt Fritsch, called the case “a tragic situation” because it involves a daughter allegedly killing her father.
“Upsetting and tragic,” Fritsch said before meeting with family members, many of whom were still weeping after the teen’s court appearance had ended.
He said the state wanting to take the case to adult court was “always a possibility.”
“We will continue to strive to keep the case here,” he said of juvenile court. “We think it’s appropriate to be here.”
Fritsch said he has talked to his client and the “obvious question” is why the alleged crime happened. The teen, who the Journal-News is not naming, has no criminal record, police said.
Another hearing was set for April 18 in Butler County juvenile court.
Fritsch said there was much evidence to review, and Gmoser said the discovery evidence will be released “as quickly as possible.”
After looking over the evidence, he hopes to “put the puzzle together,” he said.
Throughout the 15-minute hearing, the teen sat motionless and quietly answered questions from the judge. Romans called the charges against the teen “serious” and told her it was important that she know of her rights.
A copy of the charges were handed to the girl’s mother, who sat in the front row of the courtroom.
The teen, whose hair was pulled up in a bun, wore jeans and an orange jail top, and was returned to the Butler County Juvenile Detention Center after the hearing.