Ballard Back In Court

Alabama Murder The man charged with murdering two bicyclists last year will be back in court tomorrow.

by Debbie Williams

Published: Thu, May 22, 2008 - 6:15 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, July 28, 2008 - 9:46 pm CST

The man charged with murdering two bicyclists last year will be back in court tomorrow. 20 year old Patrick Ballard is applying for youthful offender status.
If granted, it would mean a big difference in the amount of time Ballard could spend behind bars if his is convicted.
Dressed in prison stripes, Patrick Ballard is back in a Baldwin County courtroom as the legal wrangling continues before hsi murder trial begins.
He's accused in the horrific crash that killed Art Clemmons and Bill Imle almost a year ago along a winding road in Baldwin County.
A teenager at the time, Ballard is applying for youthful offender status. His attorney is Jim Byrd. "The youthful offender requires the judge to do an investigation of the person, the defendant, to learn about his history and what he is like, so the judge can make an informed decision about if the benefits of youthful offender should be applied."
Those benefits can make a big difference according to Assistant District Attorney Hallie Dixon. "It limits punishment from zero to three years. It changes the amount of probation you can get, it can only be three years. So it completely changes the nature of punishment you are subject to as well as fines but more importantly, it seals your record."
In Alabama, youthful offender status can be granted to a person under the age of 21 or if the crime was committed when the person was under 21. Ballard was 19 when the crash occurred.
"It has to be addressed by a court. At his age, you cannot try a a defendant without addressing youthful offender even if he didn't we would have to mention it to the court," says Dixon.
Although eligible for bond, Ballard remains in jail after a brief release earlier this month. "Mr. Ballard was out of jail for one day for 10 percent of three hundred thousand dollars," says Byrd.
He is scheduled to be back in court, Friday.
In 2005, Patrick Ballard was convicted of killing another bicyclist near Fairhope. He applied for and was granted youthful offender status in that case.

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carl Says:

Mon, Jun 16, 2008 at 4:56 am

This goes way beyond stupidity!!

southfan1981 Says:

Sun, Jun 15, 2008 at 9:39 pm

He needs to suffer consequences for his behavior and go through treatment. His actions scream for help.

Mobilegirl82 Says:

Fri, May 23, 2008 at 10:38 am

i mean they are charging high school students as adults, why would they grant youthful offender to a grown man that knew what he was doing when he poped the top??? i mean in 2005 he killed someone in the exact same way….i think if i had gotton out of it like he did…i would have never drink again…..STUPID PEOPLE MAKE STUPID DECISIONS!

carl Says:

Fri, May 23, 2008 at 10:29 am

I’m glad to see he was denied youthful offender status,at least now he stands a good chance to serve some hard time!

asda Says:

Fri, May 23, 2008 at 8:12 am

I agree - He already got a second chance most people do not get. They sealed the case from the first time because he was only 17 at the time of the first killing. Then two years later He kills two more people. If they let him off again do you think he will try for 3 or 4 people.

BamaBob Says:

Fri, May 23, 2008 at 8:03 am

I thought “youthful offender status” status was a one shot deal for that group of people in the gray area between adulthood and juvenile. How did he get a pass on the first vehicular homicide?

Hate to be a hard a$$ about such things, but I think this kid needs to be locked away and the key tossed into Mobile Bay!

asda Says:

Fri, May 23, 2008 at 7:22 am

How Many times is he going to be allowed to kill someone? He has now killed three people that is the definition of a serial killer. He had an opportunity the first time to take what happen and learn from it. He did not learn anything he was back out on the road drunk and speeding and now two more people are dead. If they let him out again I am sure more people will die.