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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A man who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in relation to the killing of a 21-year-old in Columbus was sentenced to prison on Monday.

Nicholas Kesterson, 23, was sentenced to 10 to 13 years in prison in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas for a fatal shooting that occurred in February 2023. 

On Feb. 18, 2023, officers were called to the 1000 block of North Ninth Street just after 4:30 a.m., according to police. Authorities found James Shearer, 21, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at 4:50 a.m. at the scene.

A vehicle then fled the scene and crashed into two parked cars and a fire hydrant at the 900 block of East 11th Avenue shortly after the shooting. Two people got out of the car and attempted to run away from police but were detained.

• Police on scene at the 900 block of East 11th Avenue after fatal shooting suspects crash their getaway car and cause a water main break. (NBC4/Drew Yaussy)
• Police on scene at the 900 block of East 11th Avenue after fatal shooting suspects crash their getaway car and cause a water main break. (NBC4/Drew Yaussy)

The driver of the getaway car, Kesterson, was arrested and charged with murder. Columbus police’s initial investigation revealed that Kesterson got into an argument with Shearer which led to the shooting.

Kesterson pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter with a three year firearm specification.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – More than three months ago, recreational marijuana became legal in Ohio. But it is still not legal to buy it in the state, and likely won’t be able to for about six months. 

“We don’t like it,” Gov. Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) said. “I think we need some action by the legislature.”

When Ohioans voted to legalize recreational marijuana, DeWine urged lawmakers to make changes nearly right away. A change he wants to see is immediate recreational sales at medical dispensaries; and medical dispensaries said they are ready.

“We are prepared and ready for adult use sales to go live, as soon as they go live, whether that’s in the fall or tomorrow,” Senior regional marketing manager for Sunnyside Dispensaries Kierston Powell said.

Back in December, the Senate passed a bill to do just that, but it has stalled in the House. 

“I’ve had some conversations with House leadership, not the speaker, about can we now get this pushed now that the election is over,” Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) said. “So, I guess I am more optimistic than last week.”

Despite those conversations, a spokesperson for the speaker of the Ohio House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said the speaker thinks the rules-making process, which does not involve passing a bill, “is moving swimmingly” and has the utmost confidence in that process. 

The superintendent of the division of cannabis control, James Canepa, said if no law changes are made, they will have applications for dispensaries ready by June 7, and will be issuing permits by Sept. 7. They are getting those applications ready all while rules are being made.  

“Public comment, legislative comment, business comment, and all of that takes time,” Canepa said. “But we’ve kind of reversed engineered knowing how long those processes take to meet that first June 7 deadline.”

The proposed rules are on track to be done before the June 7 deadline.

“That number will be determined by an ownership analysis,” Canepa said. “So, what that number is going to be on top of the 137 remains to be seen.”

Right now, Canepa said 137 medical dispensaries could do dual use, and the number of recreational stores could grow. Under the new law, current dispensaries could get additional shops. 

“There will be multiple dispensaries to choose from but it's not necessarily going to be on every corner of the block,” Powell said.