COLUMBUS (WCMH) — A local teen convicted of planning a school shooting will spend four years in prison.

John “Jack” Staley III, was a 16-year-old student at Hilliard Davidson High School when fellow students overheard him talking about a planned mass shooting back in October of 2016.

On Thursday Staley, now 17, apologized for his actions before he was sentenced, and asked for mercy from Franklin County Common Pleas Court Judge David Cain.

“I am gravely sorry to my friends, family and people I’ve affected with these actions. I never meant for this to go this far. I am sorry I have to be in front of you today your honor, please have mercy on me sir,” Staley said.

“Your actions causes great, great concern, that is why it is a 1st degree felony. It is not enough to say later that it was a joke. From what I have read I think there was very little chance that it would have occurred, but even a slight chance is way too much,” Cain said.

Determining that probation would not be a sufficient deterrent, he sentenced Staley to four years behind bars, much less than the 11 year maximum, after Staley pleaded no contest to conspiracy to murder.

“He researched firearms. When it became difficult to get firearms he researched parts of firearms, so he could assemble them at the school. Before the attack he researched and traded around racist imagery,” said Joe Gibson, Special Assistant Franklin County Prosecutor.

A teacher in juvenile detention center where Staley was locked up spoke highly about his progress during his detention.

“This is a child that has been rehabilitated. I don’t see any of that racist or violence or anger. And neither do the other teachers, they wouldn’t have written a letter for him if they did,” said Tonja Blackmon.

His attorney said Staley was not planning to do harm, but prison will make him a hardened criminal.

“You want to make this kid a racist; send him to prison. You want to make this kid a criminal; send him to prison. You want to make this kid dangerous; send him to prison,” said Steve Palmer, one of Staley’s two defense attorneys.

Staley has already spent 349 days in jail which will be applied to his sentence, and once he is released he will have five years of community control.

Hilliard City Schools Spokesperson Stacie Raterman said they have no comment on Staley’s conviction and plea.