Murder trial for gunshot death of teenager set for 2023

PORTSMOUTH – The trial of a Portsmouth man accused of multiple murders in connection with the shooting death of a teenager has been scheduled before a jury.

Antonio Blake Milar, 24, of Portsmouth, will face a jury during a three-day trial scheduled to begin Monday, Sept. 30, according to court records. The trial will take place in the Scioto County Court of Common Pleas courtroom presided over by Judge Howard H. Harcha III.

Milar is charged in connection with the shooting death of a 17-year-old boy on May 31, 2023, in the 1500 block of Ninth Street. After a brief manhunt, Portsmouth Police found Milar hiding in an abandoned, burned-out building in the 1600 block of Sixth Street. He was taken into custody in the early morning hours of June 1, 2023.

Milar is currently being held in the Scioto County Jail on $300,000 bail. He was originally charged with murder, aggravated murder, and two counts of probation violations. Additional charges were filed following Milar's indictment by the Scioto County Grand Jury in July 2023.

Milar is charged with aggravated murder, two counts of murder, two counts of aggravated assault and possession of weapons while under disability. His trial was originally scheduled to take place in February. The trial is now scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on the last day of September.

Milar is scheduled to have a final pretrial conference on Thursday, September 12.

Milar is represented by local court-appointed attorney Shawn Stratton. The prosecution is being prosecuted by Scioto County District Attorney Shane Tieman and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Loesch.

Reach Lori McNelly at [email protected] or call (740) 353-3101 ext. 1928. © 2024 Portsmouth Daily Times, all rights reserved