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LISBON -- A trial date of Oct. 14 has been set in the attempted murder case against a man accused of injuring a juvenile during a shooting in Wellsville on April 27.
E'mory Nazay Chiles, 20, Independence Square, Wellsville, appeared in the company of sheriff's deputies, accompanied by his defense attorney James Wise, during a scheduling hearing Monday before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam.
Chiles was indicted early in June for the first-degree felony attempted murder charge, a second-degree felony charge of felonious assault, a third-degree felony tampering with evidence charge, a fourth-degree felony inducing panic charge and two firearm specifications which carry mandatory three-year prison terms.
Columbiana County Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said if convicted, Chiles could be looking at a possible sentence of 26 1/2 years in prison. He remains jailed under a $500,000 cash or surety bond.
According to the indictment, Chiles "did attempt to purposely cause the death of another," with the victim identified as a 15-year-old juvenile. He also attempted to cause physical harm by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance, a firearm, tampered with evidence and caused the evacuation of a public place, causing serious public inconvenience and alarm.
When asked about the inducing panic charge, Abruzzino said the public place was a park.
For the tampering charge, he said, "We have information to believe he disposed of evidence following the crime, namely a weapon and clothing."
Wellsville police responded to a report of shots fired at 8:30 p.m. April 27 in the area of Danbury Avenue. According to a police affidavit, police had received a call about shots fired near the 18th Street park in Wellsville and that the suspect was on foot wearing all black clothing heading south near Danbury Avenue behind Pep's Carryout mini-mart.
Officers were also sent to Independence Square where they were told a juvenile had been struck with a bullet. Officers spoke with the shooting victim, who sustained an injury to his right arm, near the wrist, with the injury consistent with a gunshot wound. Officers also spoke with another teen who was with the shooting victim during the incident. On April 28, officers obtained a warrant for the residence where Chiles lives, but according to the affidavit, Chiles came to the police station from work to turn himself in.
"E'mory stated that he was involved in the shooting and that he did in fact shoot at/towards" the two teens, the affidavit said.
During the hearing Monday, Wise indicated he intends to file a motion for reduction of bond on behalf of Chiles. An interim status hearing was set at 8:45 a.m. July 31, with a final status hearing set at 12:45 p.m. Oct. 1.