Hamilton teen charged in father’s fatal shooting: New development

A 14-year-old Hamilton girl has been formally indicted by a Butler County grand jury for aggravated murder for allegedly shooting her father to death.

The formal indictment was necessary after prosecutors filed a motion to have the girl declared a Serious Youth Offender.

The girl was arrested Feb. 23, the same day she allegedly shot her father James Ponder at their Millville Avenue home.

On Feb. 23, the girl, then a high school freshman, picked up a 9 mm handgun, loaded it and shot her 71-year-old father in the head, according to police and prosecutors.

No motive for the shooting has been offered.

The case will stay in Butler County Juvenile Court by ruling of Judge Kathleen Romans.

If found guilty in juvenile court of the charges, the teen would receive a blended sentence, meaning she would receive a juvenile sentence, but an adult sentence could be imposed if she did not behave in the juvenile prison.

MORE: Hamilton teen charged with father’s murder will not be tried as an adult

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