Because of the teen’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. The probable cause hearing has been set for Nov. 7 before Visiting Judge Thomas Lipps. Lipps was appointed by the Ohio Supreme Court due to a conflict of interest, according to Rob Clevenger, juvenile court administrator.
The juvenile was ordered to remain incarcerated at the juvenile detention center.
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The 17-year-old drove another teen, Cameron Kyles, and others to the Stewart residence and parked in the alley, according to court records. Kyles then went into the house, shot Stewart and stole cash and marijuana, investigators say.
Kyles, 18, was indicted by a Butler County grand jury on Oct. 18 for aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, felonious assault and having weapons under disability for the death of Stewart, according to the indictment.
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 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.
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.”
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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 cell phone, electronics and money.
Middletown Major 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.
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