An incident of gunfire in Linton last May resulted in the arrest of two individuals who were charged with intimidation and criminal recklessness with a deadly weapon. When one appeared in court last week, he admitted guilt and was sentenced to four years with two years suspended.

Marlin Alexander Ball, 19 at the time of the incident, now 20 years old, was arrested by Det. James O’Malley of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department on Thursday, May 24.

Ball was then charged with:

• Criminal recklessness – defendant shoots a firearm into a building, a Level 5 felony, and

• Intimidation – defendant draws or uses a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony.

For more information on the incident, the investigation and the allegations, click on the tag “Marlin Ball” under this story to find previous stories.

By early January, a negotiated plea agreement was reached and signed by Ball, Greene County Prosecutor Jarrod Holtsclaw and Greene County Deputy Public Defender David Hunter who was appointed to represent Ball.

After the Greene County Probation Department prepared a presentence investigation report and Greene County Community Corrections prepared an alternative sentencing evaluation, a change of plea and sentencing hearing was conducted last Wednesday, March 20, in Greene Circuit Court.

Appearing before Judge Eric Allen, Ball pleaded guilty to the first count of criminal recklessness, a Level 5 felony. Under the terms of the plea agreement, accepted by the court, the second count of intimidation was dismissed.

To determine Ball’s sentence, the court considered both aggravating and mitigating factors.

The court’s sentencing order states the aggravating factors found included Ball’s prior history of juvenile adjudications plus the fact he fired multiple shots into a home which would indicate poor character and lack of regard for the well-being of the individuals inside the residence.

Mitigating factors detailed in the order included the fact that Ball pled guilty and accepted responsibility for his actions, that he had displayed genuine remorse for his actions, and that he had no adult criminal history.

The order states the mitigating factors had substantial weight and an executed sentence below the advisory sentence was appropriate.

Ball was then sentenced to four years in the Indiana Department of Corrections with two years suspended. He was given credit for six days already served. Ball will serve the first eight months of his two years incarcerated and serve the remaining 16 months in the Greene County Community Corrections Work Release Program as long as he remains eligible.

After his time is served, he will be on supervised probation for two years.

Stories on other individuals charged in connection with this case will be covered at a later time.

For more information on the incident, the investigation and the allegations, click on the tag “Marlin Ball” under this story to find previous stories.