By james art PHOENIX – An East Valley youth abuse suspect was sentenced to prison on assault and drug charges Thursday, authorities said.
Kyler Renner, 19, received a two-year sentence in connection with a December 2022 assault and drug-related offenses, according to the Maricopa County District Attorney’s Office (MCAO).
He pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated assault, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of abetting the commission of drug possession for sale.
“This defendant had a very negative impact on the juvenile community not only by committing serious crimes, but also by distributing dangerous drugs into the community,” District Attorney Rachel Mitchell said in a news release.
What did he suspect did youth violence in the East Valley?
Renner was one of three suspects arrested for their role in the attack in a parking garage near Gilbert Road and Vaughn Avenue in downtown Gilbert on Dec. 3, 2022.
Renner was previously indicted on six counts stemming from a March 29, 2023, traffic stop in Gilbert. He was in possession of various drugs for sale, including fentanyl, at the time of that arrest, according to the MCAO.
In January, Renner was found to be in possession of drugs.
How are other cases of youth violence in the East Valley progressing?
The first prison sentence for a person linked to youth violence in the East Valley was handed down in August.
Noah Lee Pennington, 19, was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in incidents between December 2022 and May 2023.
Pennington, who was found guilty of two counts of aggravated assault, one count of aggravated robbery and one count of drug possession, will serve two years of probation upon his release.
Renner’s brother, Talan, is one of seven suspects facing first-degree murder charges in the October 2023 death of 16-year-old Preston Lord in Queen Creek.