Student who brought gun to school gets probation

A former Worthington Kilbourne High School student was sentenced to two years of probation Wednesday for bringing a gun and ammunition to school in February.

Domonic Michael Keaton, 19, of the Northwest Side, pleaded guilty in Franklin County Common Pleas Court to a misdemeanor charge of attempted illegal conveyance or possession of a deadly weapon in a Keaton school safety zone.

He was originally charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of a deadly weapon on school property, both felonies, but he pleaded not guilty to those charges and they were dropped as part of the plea deal.

Worthington Kilbourne officials learned about the incident after a student at another school alerted a principal to a social media post about the weapon.

Judge William H. Woods agreed to a joint recommendation from the prosecution and defense on the two-year probation sentence with several conditions. They include undergoing a behavioral health assessment, obtaining his high school diploma, maintaining employment or continuing education and staying away from Worthington Kilbourne.

Woods said he appreciated that Keaton understood the seriousness of what he had done.

“Good luck to you, sir,” he told Keaton. “I hope you succeed in completing your education. This is the only matter you’ve had on you record, although a very, very serious one.”