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Chardon shooting families speakout against bill that could grant TJ Lane a parole hearing

Bill could give juveniles sentenced to life parole
Posted at 10:47 PM, Dec 05, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-06 11:09:04-05

Chardon families victimized by high school shooter TJ Lane are speaking out against two proposed Ohio bills, that could grant parole hearings to Lane and other juveniles sentenced to life without parole.

House Bill 521 and Senate Bill 272, could grant juveniles like TJ Lane a parole hearing as early as their 40th birthday.

Lane was convicted after opening fire at Chardon High School in 2012 at the age of 17, killing three students and wounding three others.

16-year-old Danny Parmertor was killed during the gunfire, and his mother Dina Parmertor is fighting both bills in an effort to stop their passage.

"I was shocked and I think it's absurd," said Parmertor. "It just doesn't make sense, it's not fair."

"That's what it is, an opportunity to have the sentence reviewed.  He doesn't need the opportunity, my son wasn't given an opportunity."

Ohio State Senator John Eklund (R), District 18, is in favor the bills and told News 5 they are important to state juvenile justice reform.

Eklund said the bills are in keeping with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that deemed life sentences for juvenile offenders without the possibility of parole as unconstitutional.

Eklund told News 5 by telephone he's now considering ways to amend the bill that would exclude juveniles who have been convicted of aggravated murder, like Lane.

Chardon parents have testified in Columbus against the bills and will continue to voice their opinions in hearings set for December 6 and December 7.

Eklund believes the bills won't be ready for a vote until January 2017.

Meanwhile, Parmertor will continue her fight in honor of her son, and other families who have lost loved ones.

She believes Lane is not capable of being reformed.

"It's always something with this kid," said Parmertor.  "Just let him rot in jail, to be honest, that's how I feel."