Boy sentenced to 2 years behind bars

A 12 year-old boy is headed to prison after he attempted to car-jack a Dayton man at gunpoint.

The young suspect, we will identify only by his first name, Daron, walked into juvenile court on Monday where he faced Judge Anthony Capizzi.

"What's shocking to the court is that this youth just turned 12 in the last two weeks and his file is already is this thick," said Capizzi, holding up a hefty pile of papers.
 
The file is full of felonies including charges stemming from the October incident where Daron pulled a gun on Dan Barlow. Barlow was taking the trash out in the alley behind his Carlise Avenue home in East Dayton when Daron attempted to rob him of money and his van.

2 NEWS caught up with Barlow the day after the incident and he shared details of the conversation he had with the youngster.

"I told him to stop robbing the poor," said Barlow. "There are hard working people around here and to go find Jesus. If the Lord can save me, the Lord can save anyone. I know he has a history, but the Lord can work in his heart. I just pray that it happens".
    
Prosecutors agreed something needed to be done. They asked the judge to send Daron to the Department of Youth Services, or juvenile prison, for 3 years.
    
Capizzi decided two was enough.

"I don't think we could classify him as a career criminal at 12 years old," said Assistant Montgomery County Prosecutor Julie Bruns. "I think what we can say is that he's a juvenile in need of some services and sometimes the best service we can give them, is to take them out of their home environment".
    
The sentence left Daron visibly shaken and when given the opportunity to speak, he stayed silent.

Judge Capizzi said he wasn't ready to give up on Daron.

"I am optimistic he can be rehabilitated in the juvenile justice system and for that I am giving him just a little bit of credit for being just 12 years of age," added Capizzi.

 Daron also pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing another car a month prior.
    
Judge Capizzi told him if he does well in juvenile prison, he could be released in as early as 18 months. Daron would still be just 13 years old.