AKRON, Ohio — Kahlyl Powe, the Akron man who pleaded guilty to shooting and killing a Lyft driver back in 2021, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday afternoon.
Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty handed down the sentence during an emotional hearing. Powe will be eligible for parole after serving 19 years in prison.
"Your actions ripped a man from his family and left a gaping loss," McCarty told Powe as she handed down her decision. "I find that you are truly deserving of this sentence."
Earlier this month, Powe admitted to charges of murder, carrying a concealed weapon and improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle in connection with the death of 48-year-old Kristopher Roukey. In addition, Powe also pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a deadly weapon while under detention, felonious assault and assault of a law enforcement officer as a result of two separate cases against him.
"I would like to show my sympathy to the family of the victim," Powe said before his sentence was handed down. "Because of my adolescent behavior and immaturity, my actions caused a lot of people great pains, to feel broken-hearted, and to be very unhappy."
You can watch the entire sentencing hearing below.
“Mr. Roukey was a wonderful husband and father and was out trying to earn money to help support his family. His death leaves behind a hole which will be felt for years. I hope the Roukey family will find some peace and justice knowing the defendant will spend a significant amount of time in prison,” said Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich in a statement.
WHAT THE VICTIM'S FAMILY SAID
Several members of the Roukey family addressed the court (and Powe) prior to the announcement of sentence.
Kristopher Roukey's mother Neptune spoke tearfully spoke about her son for approximately ten minutes.
"Kris was my baby, my son, my only child. This past Sunday was the third Mother's Day I haven't gotten a call," she said.
Neptune recalled her son's journey from his native Maine to Northeast Ohio. Kris Roukey worked in professional baseball, including 15 years as a member of the staff of the Cleveland Indians as an authenticator of game-used merchandise.
Amid COVID-19, Roukey became a Lyft driver to earn money to support his wife and two children.
"Nineteen years is not justice," Neptune Roukey pleaded to McCarty before her sentencing. "This demon should be locked up for life. Evil like this cannot be rehabilitated."
Also speaking was Kristopher Roukey's widow Rachel, who spent most of her time addressing Powe.
"I hope you are afraid, afraid of going to prison and afraid of what your pathetic future holds. I hope that you miserable. I hope that you are lonely and tormented every day. Prison is exactly where you need to be," Rachel Roukey said. "I promise I will be there to fight for you to stay incarcerated. I promise I will fight to see that you remain in prison.
CASE BACKGROUND
According to officials, Roukey was working as a Lyft driver in May of 2021 when he picked up Powe near East Market Street and East Buchtel Avenue in Akron. For reasons still not publicly specified, Powe shot him multiple times in the stomach, and he later died from his injuries at an area hospital.
U.S. Marshals arrested Powe a day later, and after nearly three years of court delays a judge ruled him mentally competent to stand trial before he eventually pleaded guilty. Besides the murder of Roukey, Powe was also charged with assaulting a Summit County Sheriff's deputy while in jail in January of 2022 along with assaulting a fellow inmate in February of 2023.
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