LISBON –A jury trial remains set for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 5 in the case against a Wellsville man charged with attempted murder for injuring a juvenile during a shooting earlier this year.

E’mory Nazay Chiles, 20, Independence Square, appeared before Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Washam for a status hearing Thursday morning, accompanied by his defense attorney James Wise and escorted by a deputy sheriff.

The state was represented by county Assistant Prosecutors Alec Beech and Christopher Weeda.

“We’re unresolved,” Wise said when asked the status of the case.

Beech said there had been negotiations, but indicated the state was ready to go to trial. Under questioning from Washam, Wise said he had explained the possible penalties to his client for the charges against him and for the plea deal offered to him.

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, all related to the April 27 shooting in Wellsville.

According to Beech, the possible maximum penalty for each charge if Chiles is convicted is 11 years for the attempted murder, eight years for the felonious assault, which would be merged with the attempted murder term, three years for the tampering charge and 18 months for the inducing panic.

Wise noted that Chiles is also facing a possible maximum penalty of eight years in a separate weapons case before Judge Megan Bickerton if convicted.

According to Wise, the plea deal would have been for a recommended sentence of at least eight years to 10 and a half years.

Washam asked Chiles if his attorney explained the possible penalties and if he understood, which he said he did. He also asked him about refusing the plea deal and he indicated that was his intent.

Washam asked Wise if he still intended to use a self-defense claim and he said he did.

According to a police affidavit, Wellsville police had received a call about shots fired near the 18th Street park 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. On April 28, officers obtained a warrant for the residence where Chiles lived, 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.

The indictment alleged that Chiles attempted to purposely cause the death of the  15-year-old victim, used a firearm, tampered with evidence and caused the evacuation of a public place, causing serious public inconvenience and alarm.

When previously asked about the inducing panic charge, county Prosecutor Vito Abruzzino said the public place was a park. As for the tampering charge, he said the investigators had information that Chiles allegedly disposed of evidence following the crime, referring to a weapon and clothing. He remains jailed on a $500,000 cash or surety bond for the attempted murder case.

Also pending is an additional indictment Chiles picked up while incarcerated at the county jail for the attempted murder case. He was charged with possession of a deadly weapon while under detention, a second-degree felony. The secret indictment alleged that he possessed a metal shank while under detention at the Columbiana County jail on July 25, 2025.

A status hearing in that case remains set for 9:40 a.m. Jan. 26, with a jury trial set for 9 a.m. Feb. 3 before Bickerton.