KELLY’S PLATFORM

Admitted, Ohio Supreme Court - November 2005

Juris Doctor - University of North Dakota School of Law (2005)

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Studies - University of North Dakota (2002)

Staff Attorney

12th District Court of Appeals  /  October 2005 – May 2008

Reviewed appellate briefs, researched and drafted opinions for Published Appellate Decisions.

Attended Judicial conference meetings to discuss legal issues, research, appellate arguments.  Provided legal guidance on topics raised.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney

Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office  /  May 2008 - Present

Experience handling all aspects of case review and litigation for adult and juvenile offenders; Appellate Division, Juvenile Division, Grand Jury/Intake Division, Criminal Division.

2 years assigned to Child Abuse Bureau at CARE House, 1 year as Grand Jury/Intake Supervisor, 5 years as Trial Team Supervisor, including 3yrs supervising Child Abuse Bureau, 3 years as Chief of Juvenile Division supervising Delinquency and Abuse/Neglect/Dependency.

Currently assigned to Violent Crimes Bureau since October 2025.

Argued before the 2nd District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court.  

Work closely with victims of crime, witnesses, law enforcement, defense counsel, and Judges.

Trial Stats:  50+ Felony & Sexually Violent Predator Trials, 20+ Juvenile Court Trials / Bindover Hearings

MURDER CASES

State v. James David Miller – 17 year old Miller shot and killed his sister’s boyfriend.  After a hearing to transfer the case to adult court, Miller tried the case to a Montgomery County jury.  the jury found the defendant guilty.

State v. Darren Taylor  and State v. Larry Baker  – Co-defendants Taylor and Baker, along with a 3rd co-conspirator, traveled from Detroit, MI to rob a pawn shop in Harrison Township.  They exchanged gunfire with shop’s owner, who tragically died. The co-conspirator was also struck in the exchange of gunfire, and died enroute back to Detroit.  His body was dumped in a Michigan alley.  In 2 separate trials, prosecutors called witnesses from both Detroit and Harrison Township to show the path of travel to and from Montgomery County, including cell phone data and surveillance cameras that captured the fatal events, as well as blood and ballistics evidence linking both Taylor and Baker to the 2 deaths.  two separate juries found the pair guilty as charged.

State v. Torace & Shureka Weaver - Defendants were foster parents to a 3 year old child and Defendant Torace Weaver was a pastor at a small church.  After just 51 days in their custody, 3-year-old S.T. died of abusive head trauma.  At the time of his death, S.T. was observed to have multiple other injuries including horrific burns on his arm.  Defendant Torace Weaver was charged with murder, while Defendant Shureka Weaver was charged with child endangering.  a jury found both defendants guilty as charged.  

State v. Ryan St. John – 2 yo B.F. died of blunt force injuries including a devastating skull fracture.  Defendant was the boyfriend of B.F.’s mother, and was watching B.F. alone for a small window on the morning he was injured.  At trial, prosecutors demonstrated a detailed timeline through numerous witnesses and exhibits, including phone evidence, medical evidence, and pictures. the jury found Defendat Guilty.

State v. Brandon Leigh - Juvenile Defendant Brandon Leigh sprayed bullets at the back of a house belonging to a boy he believed stole from him.  A bullet struck and killed a 22-yo pregnant mother, the older sister of the Defendant’s target.  after a juvenile bindover, a montgomery County jury found the defendant Guilty.

State v. Antawan Benson and State v. Javen Conner – Co-Defendants looking to retaliate against their cousin’s ex, fired more than 30 rounds across Fairview Ave., striking 3 houses more than a dozen times.  One bullet entered the bedroom wall of 12yo I.C., asleep in her bed, killing her.  In separate trials, the Defendants challenged ID and opportunity, and prosecutors introduced witnesses, cell phone and video evidence demonstrating their involvement. Two separate juries found the pair guilty as charged.    2nd man found guilty of murder of sleeping 12-year-old girl | WDTN.com

State v.Jamie Grachek, 13CR1025/3 – Jamie Grachek’s case did not go to trial; she instead pled guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter for arranging an armed robbery that resulted in the death of her ex-husband, J.G.  She was ultimately sentenced to 21 years in prison for her role.   Due to the nature of the case, the story was featured on an episode of “SNAPPED” on the Oxygen network.  Watch Jamie Grachek | Snapped

RAPE / SEXUALLY VIOLENT OFFENSES

State v. Soloman Bogan– DNA evidence tested by the Dayton Police Department’s cold-case investigations section identified Solomon Bogan as the perpetrator of a horrific home invasion burglary and rape from 1998.  The jury found the defendant guilty.

State v. Craig Turpin  – After a jury trial that required the fearful testimony of a tearful child victim, Defendant was convicted of multiple instances of sexual abuse of an 8yo.  Based on prior convictions for similar conduct, prosecutors sought and separately tried a Sexually Violent Predator specification.  After introduction of evidence of a prior conviction for similar conduct and 2 other uncharged sexual offenses, Defendant was convicted of the SVP.

State v. Jermar White – Defendant and a female victim-turned-co-defendant recruited two 15 year old girls to post prostitution ads on Backpage.com, engaged in sex acts with the girls, and took pictures of them for the ads.  Co-defendant pled guilty and later testified against Jermar White at trial.  Defendant was found guilty on numerous counts.

State v. Robert Maranger  – Sexually Violent Predator Specification Trial.  Defendant pled guilty to Rape of a child due to video evidence from a Montgomery County motel.  Based on prior convictions for similar conduct, prosecutors pursued a Sexually Violent Predator specification and Defendant took the charge to trial.  Witnesses included Defendant’s prior victims on sexual assault convictions from Wisconsin, parole and sex offender treatment supervisors from Wisconsin, computer evidence regarding child pornography on Defendant’s computer, and law enforcement officers regarding Defendant’s extensive history of sexual predatory behavior.  Defendant was found guilty of the SVP specification.

State v. John Friend – Defendant indicted for sexual abuse and threats to an 8-year-old victim.  After the initial indictment, Defendant attempted to hire “hit-man” to kill the victim and the boy's father.  Dayton Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office coordinated an undercover investigation which developed recordings of Defendant negotiating the price for elimination of his accuser and giving instructions on how to retrieve the money.  Defendant ultimately pled to multiple counts Rape and sexual abuse, as well as counts of Conspiracy to Commit Murder.

State v. Randy Stanaford – 11 yo victim was kidnapped from her bus stop by Defendant and dragged beside a house where she was raped.  Defendant’s DNA was found in the sexual assault kit and Defendant was arrested days later still carrying the knife used to subdue the victim.  Defendant was found Guilty as Charged.  Based on prior convictions and conduct, prosecutors pursued and separately tried a Sexually Violent Predator Specification.  Evidence included prior convictions for sexually based offenses, video evidence recovered showing Defendant stalking child victims and filming himself watching them.  Defendant was convicted of SVP.

State v. Ted Mullins – In 2009, Defendant pulled victim into a truck and raped her, leaving his DNA on her shirt.  In 2017, a seperate felony charge put his DNA into the system and flagged a CODIS hit from the victim’s 2009 sexual assault kit.  Defendant took the stand and claimed he had rescued the victim from an abusive boyfriend and she borrowed a shirt at his house.  Defendant was convicted on all counts.

State v. Justin Sanderson  Defendant was Phillipsburg Police Officer who sexually assaulted 4 women in 3 separate incidents while on duty and in uniform.  Numerous witnesses and exhibits including computer/phone/digital evidence, DNA evidence, activity log and dispatch records.  Defendant was convicted on all counts. 

State v. Scott Pate  – Defendant was indicted on multiple counts of Rape and sexual assault of 2 child victims, as well as for the disclosure of a prior child victim.  Defendant was found guilty as charged.  Based on similar prior conduct, prosecutors pursued and separately tried a Sexually Violent Predator Specification Trial involving the testimony of 2 additional victims from 1987 and 1994.  Defendant found Guilty of the SVP specification.   

State v. Gary Kelly – Gary Kelly sexually abused numerous children from 1987 to 2018.  His pattern of conduct was finally revealed when his most recent victim, just 4 years old, disclosed his abuse.  Her disclosure led to the discovery of 4 additional victims from prior years.  In 2 separate trials, Kelly was first convicted of sexual assault of his 4yo victim, and then 2 additional victims who were sexually abused by Defendant in 1987-1991.  Finally, a third Sexually Violent Predator Specification trial was held, with competing expert evaluations regarding Defendant’s likelihood of reoffending. Judge found Deft. Guilty of the SVP specification.

OTHER NOTABLE TRIALS 

State v.Kevin Barker– Dayton Police conducted an extensive undercover investigation into Defendant’s extensive prostitution operation on backpage.com.  At trial, video was played showing Defendant coaching an undercover detective on how to make money on “dates.”  At trial, former “employees” of Defendant’s testified to his control of a prostitution operation, fronted as an entertainment business.  Based on the complexity of his operation, Defendant was charged and convicted of Engaging in a Pattern of Corrupt Activity (aka “RICO” or organized crime statutes) and Promoting Prostitution.  

State v. Jane & John Does (the Harem Investigation) – this was a 14 Co-Defendant case by the Ohio Investigative Unit and the R.A.N.G.E. task force. At the charging stage, I participated in multiple investigation strategy meetings with OIU and RANGE as well as our civil division to coordinate the execution of search warrants, civil injunctions, and arrests for warrants on indictment.  The investigation resulted in charges for 14 co-defendants identified through OIU’s 9-month undercover investigation for everything from possession of drugs, to trafficking in drugs, to RICO charges based on drug trafficking.  I additionally assisted  with the extensive civil injunction hearing to shut down the nuisance property known as Harem Nightclub.  All 14 defendants either entered guilty pleas or were convicted at trial.

State v. Todd King – Dayton Police responded to a domestic violence incident on Elsmere Ave, but when defendant refused to come out and then fired shots at the responding officers from inside his house, a 13-hour standoff ensued, with Defendant using his 2 children as shields inside the house.  After a week-long trial, Defendant was found guilty as charged and sentenced to 28 years. 

State v. Ora Donaldson & Patricia Hammer– Co-Defendants were career criminal thieves, who worked together to steal trucks, trailers and tools and sell them. Charges related to a theft-spree that spanned a number of months in 2020 and involved 9 separate victims.  Jury found both Defendants Guilty of RICO and numerous underlying offense.  Judge sentenced both to prison.

State v. Derrick Lewis – Defendant held his girlfriend and children hostage in a 11-hour SWAT standoff with Dayton Police after he shot at 2 officers and then barricaded himself inside.  Defendant ultimately pleaded Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity and claimed he could not be held responsible for his actions because he was delusional.  Defendant did subscribe to fringe ideologies such as sovereign citizen and black Hebrew Israelite movements, but was ultimately found not to be suffering from delusions which prevented him from knowing the wrongfulness of his actions.  He was found guilty as charged and sentenced to 18-20 years in prison.