Slingshot-Firing County Employee Pleads Guilty to Shooting at Cars

A 19-year employee of Morris County pleaded guilty to third-degree weapon possession charges Tuesday after he had a BB handgun and used a slingshot to fire at passing vehicles, according to Acting Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp.

Lawrence Ball, 55, of Randolph, did not have a legal permit for the BB gun, Knapp said.

Ball was arrested on September 13, 2010 on several counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose after authorities reported he had been firing the weapons at passing cars. 

Ball could be sentenced to probationary supervision for five years, as the state is planning to recommend, Knapp said, and be forced to undergo psychiatric and psychological treatment and have no contact with weapons. 

Additionally, Ball will be forced to forfeit all public employment if the state's recommendations are carried out.

The state was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Brian DiGiacomo in the plea agreement and the Hon. Mary Gibbons Whipple presided.

Ball is out of jail on bail and scheduled for sentencing on April 19.

Knapp thanked Police Chief Robert Mason of the Randolph Police Department, Police Chief Scott Thompson and the Morris Plains Police Department, Police Chief John McGuinness and the Morris Township Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office General Investigations Unit for assisting with the investigation.