Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW AP: Engineered timber could be boon to wood products industry ... Commissioner race: Challstrom says government unfriendly to business ... Commissioner race: Strosser cites strong public service ... AP: Engineered timber could be boon to wood products industry ... Commissioner race: Challstrom says government unfriendly to business ... Commissioner race: Strosser cites strong public service ... Second defendant in deadly ripoff at Lake Selmac gets 15 years Comment By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 22, 2016 at 4:57 PM By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 22, 2016 at 4:57 PM » Social News The second of three men from Texas accused of participating in a deadly marijuana ripoff at Lake Selmac will spend the next 15 years in prison — after he testifies against the third suspect, accused trigger man Marshall McKenna. Carroll Eugene Ballard, 23, faced a minimum of 25 years in prison for murder for his role in the slaying of 43-year-old Roger E. Huntington, who was found shot to death in his SUV near a boat ramp at the lake 25 miles southwest of Grants Pass last October. Instead, Ballard cut a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to testify against McKenna in exchange for a sentence of 15 years to an amended charge of first-degree manslaughter as well as first-degree robbery. Authorities allege the slaying was precipitated by a robbery, and in court Thursday Ballard's lawyer acknowledged his client and his cohorts had "bad intentions." Murder, however, was not on the agenda — at least for Ballard and the third man, 21-year-old Blake Raymond Sibley, according to Ballard's attorney, Joseph G. Maier. "Neither had intention that Roger would be killed," Maier told Josephine County Circuit Court Judge Lindi Baker, adding that murder "was the furthest thing from their minds that afternoon." Ballard was the second defendant to cut a deal against McKenna, who is charged with aggravated murder. Last month, Sibley pleaded guilty to a charge of first-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Sibley and Ballard were picked up within days of the discovery of Huntington's body. McKenna was arrested earlier this month in Texas after more than five months on the lam. The trio, all from the Forth Worth, Texas, area, apparently had arranged to meet Huntington, a native of the Northern California coast, at Lake Selmac to conduct a transaction involving pounds of marijuana. Authorities have not publicly acknowledged that aspect of the case, but lawyers and family members of the victim have said so. Even though recreational use of marijuana is now legal in Oregon, it remains off-limits in most of the rest of the country, including Texas. Owing to the basic rule of supply and demand, so-called "dark marijuana" from Oregon continues to fetch much higher prices in other places. "They were caught up in the drug culture and the promise of easy money," Maier told the court Thursday. "A stupid stunt for selfish reasons destroyed all our families," was how Huntington's sister-in-law, Shari Mott, explained it to the court. Mott was one of several of Huntington's family members who attended Ballard's hearing Thursday. They held up pictures of the victim throughout the proceeding. Huntington's niece, Amber Miller, told the defendant that her uncle was a "constant" in the family's life. Other family members described Huntington as funny and gregarious. "We lost that — over drugs," Miller said. Ballard, the only defendant in the case with an apparent connection to Southern Oregon, apologized to the victim's family, saying he was "deeply sorry." Court records indicate Ballard, who goes by the nickname BJ, was living in Eagle Point in 2014, and a reference was made in court Thursday to his mother living in Yreka, Calif. "This was a thing I never ever intended on happening," he said, adding that even after he is released from prison, "I have to live with this for the rest of my life." His plea leaves McKenna's as the only case pending. Captured earlier this month in Texas near the Mexican border, McKenna is charged with aggravated murder with a firearm, first-degree robbery and unlawful use of a weapon. He is also charged with second-degree assault with a firearm — authorities allege he pistol-whipped Huntington during the robbery before shooting him in the head. Deputy prosecutor Lisa Turner told the court McKenna is still in the process of being extradited to Oregon. Once he's here, she said, Ballard is expected to testify against him. "I will file charges if he (Ballard) does not cooperate," she vowed to the court. Daily Courier City Editor Chris Bristol can be reached at 541-474-3716 or [email protected] By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Apr. 22, 2016 at 4:57 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501