Home » Headlines » Courts » Man Sentenced For Attempted Murder Of Mariposa County Deputy

Man Sentenced For Attempted Murder Of Mariposa County Deputy

Brian Ballasch

Brian Ballasch

MARIPOSA COUNTY — The man charged with the 2015 shooting of Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputy Rudy Mirelez, was sentenced today in Mariposa County Superior Court.

Brian Ballasch, 37, of Merced, agreed to plead guilty to two counts attempted murder, two counts of assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic weapon, with an enhancement for discharging a firearm. He was sentenced by Judge Michael Fagalde to 27 years in state prison.

Ballasch was arrested on Oct. 1, 2015, after leading deputies on a high speed chase near Mariposa, then firing on law enforcement officers, gravely wounding Deputy Mirelez.

At approximately 6 a.m. on the day of the incident, Mariposa County sheriff deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle due to erratic driving.

A pursuit ensued on Highway 49 just south of the town of Mariposa. Sheriff Doug Binnewies stated at the time that it appeared Ballasch was intentionally driving in an erratic manner and dangerously passed a marked deputy’s patrol car at a high rate of speed, in an effort to initiate the traffic stop.

Ballasch, then crashed his vehicle into assisting sheriff units, exited his vehicle and after a short verbal exchange, started shooting at four deputies with a .45 caliber pistol.

Mariposa County Deputy Rudy Mirelez

Deputy Rudy Mirelez

Deputy Rudy Mirelez, then a 10-year veteran of the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, was struck twice — once in the face and once in the torso — and was airlifted to a North Valley hospital in critical condition.

Ballasch was shot in the ear and elbow when officers returned fire. He was hospitalized locally in stable condition, and was arrested for attempted murder of a peace officer.

According to Mariposa District Attorney Thomas Cooke, Ballasch had previously entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, and was sent to Napa State Hospital for psychiatric evaluation where it was determined he was not competent to stand trial.

After doctors worked with Ballasch and found a medication that delivered good results, he was reevaluated by the trial competency team and found be competent to enter into the plea agreement that resulted in his 27-year sentence.

Ballasch has been held at the Stanislaus County Jail since his arrest on Oct. 1, 2015, with the exception of his time at the state hospital.

Deputy Rudy Mirelez returned to his job today — his first day back since his last surgery, which as been one of many, says Kristie Mitchell of the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. She says Deputy Mirelez is in good spirits and is on light duty.

Sheriff Doug Binnewies read this impact statement in court today before Ballasch was sentenced:

The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office is empowered to protect, serve and enrich our community. We strive to do just that, with integrity and honor.Your honor, court staff, our supporting law enforcement partners during this incident including the Mariposa Area California Highway Patrol and the CHP MAIT Team, Sheriff Adam Christianson and the Stanislaus Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jay Varney and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office, Mercy Ambulance, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office and the Modesto Police Department, and Chase’s Foothill Petroleum along with the Mariposa County community that has supported the Deputies and the Sheriff’s Office so strongly, thank you for support and the opportunity to share some thoughts at this hearing.

This incident which has been extremely impacting to the victim Deputies, especially Deputy Rudy Mirelez and his family, the fine personnel of the Sheriff’s Office and the great community of Mariposa County.

The defendant drove to Mariposa County with intent to harm county citizens. He possessed intent and a firearm to carry out his personal mission.

Only due to the heroic act of our Sheriff Deputies on that October 1st morning was he stopped from murdering unsuspecting citizens. During that event, once contacting the Deputies, and his car was disabled due to the violent crash into a fully identified Sheriff’s patrol vehicle, the defendant then turned his aggressiveness toward them with his firearm.

It was at this moment, that the defendant intentionally shot several times, placing two 45 caliber bullets into Deputy Rudy Mirelez’ face and chest. Mariposa County Deputies; Rudy Mirelez, Justin Sponhaltz, Mike King and Tim Lemmons responded and ultimately arrested him to later stand trial for his violent actions.

Deputy Mirelez was gravely injured from this attack. In fact his surgeons at the Memorial trauma center in Modesto worked diligently but were not optimistic. It was a scary time. This was an unearned and undeserving attack. Rudy did not deserve this pain and his wife, Christine, and their children certainly did not deserve this terror that they were now facing not knowing if their own hero was going to live or die.

In today’s California, it is hard to keep the bad guys in jail. Thanks to AB109, Prop 47 and most recently Prop 57. Our Deputies get it, they don’t make the laws, they professionally and fairly enforce the laws and continue to achieve their best to keep our communities safe.

I along with our community am very proud of these men, and all the men and women who represent the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners in their many capacities to ensure that we and our loved ones and our neighbors can all enjoy a safe community in Mariposa County.

But I do need to share this, while it is the job of the professional law enforcement officers and talented support staff to remain professional, fair and neutral, it is a different world for our spouses, children and loved ones. They find no comfort in this. They don’t understand why this defendant could commit such a violent attack to our loved law enforcement officers. They don’t understand why it’s so hard to keep the bad guys in jail. And they don’t recognize why a defendant who would shoot at our officers, and shoot Deputy Rudy Mirelez in the face and in the chest with a .45 caliber pistol would ever be able to get out of prison to see the light of day before his death.

Law enforcement officers can remain neutral during these incidents. It’s their job. In fact, I bet not one of these Deputies involved in this attack would say they “hate” the defendant. I however know that they, and we, all want the defendant to remain accountable for his actions. And realize the consequences of all of his harm that he caused. And never allow the defendant to harm another again.

 

Leave a Reply

Sierra News Online

Sierra News Online