CLEVELAND — A teenager who robbed a priest in 2017 at gunpoint over some chicken eggs was sentenced as an adult in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Jaylen Miller, 17, previously pleaded guilty to felonious assault, aggravated robbery and receiving stolen property. A 3-year gun specification was part of the charges.
Miller was sentenced to 9 years in prison.
In December 2017, Father John Kumse of St. Mary’s Church in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood was gathering eggs from the church’s chicken coop when he was approached by four teens.
Police say the priest had just taken the eggs from the coop when one of the teens came up to him and said, "Give me the eggs."
The priest tried to run but tripped and fell. At that moment, Miller fired several shots at Kumse, but they all missed, authorities said.
Miller and three other teens were arrested the next day and charged.
“Father Kumse is an icon of the Collinwood neighborhood. He has dedicated much of his life to serving that neighborhood and its residents,” said Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. “Miller will now be held accountable for his violent criminal behavior.”
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Miller and another juvenile’s case were bound over to common pleas court. Another teen, Terrance Kimbrough, was sentenced last month.
A third teen took a plea deal last year. The final teen’s court case is scheduled for July.
