Teen charged in Shawnee killing could face adult prison sentence

A Johnson County judge ruled Tuesday that a teenager charged with killing his father can face a potential adult prison sentence if he is convicted and gets in criminal trouble again.

Last week, District Judge Thomas Foster denied an effort by prosecutors to have 15-year-old Dalton Gay tried as an adult for the July 2013 shooting death of his father.

But on Tuesday, Foster granted a request from prosecutors to invoke an extended juvenile jurisdiction program that would allow the judge to impose an adult sentence if Dalton commits any new crimes while under juvenile court supervision. Under Kansas juvenile law, he can remain under supervision until he turns 23.

Dalton, who was 14 at the time, is charged with premeditated first-degree murder in the shooting death last July of Darren Gay outside a Shawnee auction business.

If prosecuted as an adult charge, the crime carries a sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years.

During two days of court testimony earlier this month, defense attorney Trey Pettlon presented testimony about alleged physical, sexual and emotional abuse by Darren Gay against his son.

Dalton has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the abuse, and mental health professionals testified that they did not believe him to be a threat to the public.

This story was originally published June 24, 2014 at 4:28 PM with the headline "Teen charged in Shawnee killing could face adult prison sentence."