Oregon District shooter’s friend sentenced to prison

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DAYTON — UPDATE @ 3:45 p.m.

Ethan Kollie was sentenced to 32 months in prison after pleading guilty to federal firearms charges connected to the Oregon District mass shooting.

He also will have three years probation after his time in prison.

>>Dayton mass shooter's friend pleads guilty to federal firearms charges

The judge also order Kollie to surrender all weapons and he will not be allowed to legally purchase weapons again.

The federal judge said the maximum sentence for both counts was 15 years. He said he strives to find just disposition for both the community and defendant.

Kollie said he had a lot of time to think about where he was in his life since being arrested.  He said his wrong decision to use drugs played a part.

Kollie said he’s been sober since his arrest and that he’s cut ties with a large group of people that negatively influenced him.  He also said he’s moved closer to his supportive family.

Federal prosecutors had supported the recommended sentence of 33 to 41 months in prison.

Kollie’s lawyer had requested that Kollie be sentenced to supervised release.

INITIAL REPORT:

Ethan Kollie, who pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges in a plea agreement in November connected to the Dayton Oregon District mass shooting, is scheduled to appear in court today for sentencing.

Prosecutors haven’t said that Kollie was involved in planning or executing the shooting, and the charges didn’t involve the weapon the shooter Connor Betts used to kill nine people before he was shot and killed by police.

Instead, according to Vipal Patel, first assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of Ohio, prosecutors accused Kollie of buying the body armor, the double-barrel drum-style magazine, and the upper receiver to the pistol that Betts used. Kollie was also accused of lying on a background check, saying that he did not use drugs.

>>Oregon District Shooting: Remembering the Victims

It is unclear how long of a sentence the U.S. Attorney’s Office will call for, though Patel said he believes the sentencing guideline for Kollie’s conviction was 34-41 months.

Patel added that the plea agreement did not include and dropping or dismissing of charges.