Columbus teen to be tried as adult in St. Marys shooting case

CELINA — A Columbus teenager charged in connection with an April shooting in St. Marys will now be tried as an adult following his 18th birthday.

Franklin Uceda-Mercado was indicted this month by an Auglaize County grand jury on multiple charges, including felonious assault, a second-degree felony; tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony; carrying a concealed weapon, a fourth-degree felony; and theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.

Uceda-Mercado was initially charged in Auglaize County Juvenile Court, but after turning 18 on June 25, Judge Mark E. Spees ruled he should be tried as an adult. The indictment was returned on December 9. He was arraigned December 12 and entered not guilty pleas to all charges. Public defender Rob C. Wiesenmayer is listed as his attorney.

The charges stem from an incident around 4:30 a.m. on April 26 at the Circle K on North Spruce Street in St. Marys. Police said an altercation between two groups led to a gun being fired, striking an unidentified male victim in the lower leg. The injury was reported as non-life-threatening.

Uceda-Mercado was later taken into custody and initially held at a juvenile detention facility before being transferred to the Auglaize County Correctional Center, where he remains. If convicted, he faces a possible prison sentence ranging from 2 to 13 years and fines of up to $31,000. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 6.

Two additional juveniles from St. Marys and Fort Recovery were also charged with assault in connection with the incident. Those cases remain pending in juvenile court.