Butler County Common Pleas Judge Spaeth sentenced Staley to an agreed-to sentence of 21 years to life in prison.
Staley is the third of four to take a plea deal for the death of 18-year-old Tyler Kassow in January.
On Friday, Rodney Foster, 19, of Springdale, pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced by Spaeth to a mandatory sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Charges of kidnapping, aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated robbery and two counts of tampering with evidence with gun specifications were dismissed against him.
Last month, Justin Koch, 19, took the same plea deal and was given the same sentence.
That leaves Jibril Willingham, 20, of Springdale, who are facing the same charges. His trial is scheduled to begin next month.
The four men planned to rob Kassow and his brother, Alex, Jan. 13 inside a home in the 9300 block of Cincinnati-Columbus Road, according to prosecutors. Kassow was fatally shot botched robbery. Prosecutors say the four men staked out the residence and planned to rob the Kassows of a large shipment of marijuana that Tyler Kassow has received that day.
While investigating the shooting, police said they discovered a marijuana grow operation at the residence.
Koch drove the men to Kassow’s residence, and Koch and Willingham never left the vehicle, according to prosecutors.
Staley and Foster, who were wearing ski masks, forced their way into the residence at gunpoint when Kassow’s brother opened the door, police said. A scuffle ensued and Kassow was shot once in the head by Staley while his brother and two other juveniles watched.
The four then fled, dumping the masks, a gun and a back pack in a canal behind the Cincinnati Premium Outlet in Monroe, Assistant Prosecutor Brad Burress stated in court.
Staley said he has no prior criminal record, was a high school graduate, and told the judge he got A’s and B’s in school.
Before sentencing, Staley turned to the Kassow family, including Alex Kassow, and offered an apology.
“I never meant for anyone to get hurt,” he said.
Tyler Kassow’s father, Albert Kassow, who was wearing a T-shirt with a photo of his dead son, said, “It will take a while.”
“This has put a hole in our hearts that can never be healed. There are not winners here,” Lila Liggett, Tyler’s mother, said.
The judge asked Liggett if she know her son had received a shipment of marijuana or was growing it.
She said, “there were some plants in the basement. They were dead.”
Alex Kassow said nothing can bring back his brother and told Staley he appreciated the apology.
Spaeth also asked Alex Kassow if he knew about the marijuana.
“I got wind of it,” Alex Kassow answered.
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