The appeals court ruling released Monday rejected arguments from an attorney for 17-year-old Michael Phelps that the sentence was inappropriate for the March 2011 shooting at Martinsville West Middle School.

 

A Morgan County judge last year convicted Phelps of shooting then-15-year-old Chance Jackson twice in the abdomen after an ongoing dispute between the two who had both dated the same girl. Jackson's mother testified that he needed multiple surgeries because shooting damaged several organs, including his liver and a kidney.

 

Defense attorney Steven Litz didn't immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press seeking comment.