The first defendant to stand trial for the Nov. 27, 2019, murders of Caleb Chamberlain and Anthony Scartz will have to serve 75 years before he is eligible for parole.
Josia Bush, 19, appeared Thursday before Logan County Common Pleas Judge Kevin P. Braig and was sentenced to consecutive life terms with a minimum of 15 year on two counts of complicity to murder; 11 years for one count of complicity to aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; 11 years on one count of complicity to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; and eight years on one count of complicity to felonious assault, a second-degree felony. Sentencing for one count of complicity to kidnapping, a first-degree felony, was merged with the robbery sentence.
There were three-year mandatory sentences for using a gun on five felony counts and Judge Braig set those as consecutive sentences for a total of 15 years.
“Nobody wins in these situations, but there was a sense of justice for the victims and their families,” Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart said. “For them to have to relive it, testify and see photos of their loved one with bullet holes in their heads is incredibly painful for the victims’ families. They felt (Bush) had no remorse for what he did.
“These cases are tough even when we get a conviction. We can never get the loved ones back.
Bush is the second of four defendants to be sentenced.
A co-defendant, Elijah Barrett, 18, pled guilty in December to complicity to aggravated robbery, complicity to aggravated assault and complicity to murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving a net of 25 to 27 years.
He is currently housed at the Orient Correctional Facility.
Two other defendants, Austin Allen, 23, and Ethan Grim, 20, are slated for trials.
Each have been charged with two counts of complicity to murder; one count of complicity to aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; one count of complicity to aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony; one count of complicity to kidnapping, a first-degree felony; and two counts of complicity to felonious assault, second-degree felonies.
Allen’s trial is set to start Nov. 29 while Grim’s is set for Jan. 9.
Allen had entered guilty pleas to complicity to aggravated burglary and complicity to aggravated burglary without specifications that a gun was used in the crimes a year ago. He withdrew the pleas in August.
At the time of the murders Bush was 16; Barrett was 15; and Grim was 17. Each was bound over from juvenile court to stand trial as adults in the summer of 2021.
At Bush’s October trial, prosecutors convinced a jury the defendant entered the victims’ 601 W. Columbus Ave. residence with Grim and Barrett to steal money and marijuana from the victims.
There were four people in the residence at the time including a pregnant female who was ordered upstairs at gunpoint.
Chamberlain, 22, and Scartz, 24, came home from a shopping trip accompanied by another female as the burglary trio were in the second floor
Scartz retrieved a handgun shot at Barrett, authorities say, and Barrett returned fire.
Barrett was struck in a leg while Scartz was shot several times and succumbed to his injuries several days later.
The trio rushed down the stairs, stepping over Scartz to exit, and Chamberlain hit one of the suspects in the back with an asp.
Grim had picked up Barrett’s gun and allegedly shot Chamberlain in the face. He was declared dead at the scene.
Allen allegedly drove the trio to and from the residence.
Following the shooting, the three teenage suspects reportedly fled to Urbana to get Barrett help for a gunshot wound to one of his legs.
After he was flown to Nationwide Children’s Hospital, investigators were alerted of his identity and Columbus police officers assisted to secure him at the hospital during treatment. He was arrested once he was medically cleared.
Grim and Bush remained on the run until the morning of Nov. 28 when officers of the Urbana Police Department received and passed on a tip. Bellefontaine detectives then asked deputies from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office to check a residence in their jurisdiction, which ultimately led to their capture.
Allen was taken into custody a day later.
