News
Trial Set In Death Of Nelsonville Tavern Owner
By: Susan Tebben
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A trial date has been set for a man charged in the death of a Nelsonville tavern owner.
Taylor Allen Mills, 22, of Nelsonville, is scheduled to appear before a jury on Feb. 14, 2017, according to Athens County Common Pleas Court documents.
Mills was indicted in January by an Athens County grand jury on charges of aggravated murder, murder, involuntary manslaughter, carrying a concealed weapon, illegal possession of a firearm in liquor permit premises and tampering with evidence.
He was arrested in December after allegedly shooting Mine Tavern owner Tim Koker at the bar on the Public Square in Nelsonville.
Mills was at The Mine late on Dec. 22, and reportedly caused a disturbance before being asked to leave. He came back to the bar and was again asked to leave after throwing an object at the window, Athens County Assistant Prosecutor Rob Driscoll said after his arrest.
After Koker asked Mills to leave again, shots were fired, Driscoll said.
Nelsonville police responded, along with the Athens County Sheriff’s Office, at about 11:30 p.m. and found a male subject, later identified as Koker, who appeared to be suffering from a gunshot wound.
Police attempted CPR and emergency personnel responded, but Koker was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Mills is accused of fleeing the scene and barricading himself in a residence on Harper Street. The Athens County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Response Team was deployed and were able to subdue Mills without injury.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Pre-trial hearings are scheduled for November 10 and February 1 in the case.
Mills is being held at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail on $1 million bond.