Projectile-Throwing Case: Man Pleads Not Guilty To 79 Charges

SALINAS, CA — The man accused of flinging glass marbles with a slingshot to hit cars driving along highways near Prunedale pleaded not guilty to 79 counts in Monterey County Superior Court Monday, the Monterey Herald reported.

Charles Kenneth Lafferty, 52, was arrested last week in connection with a series of incidents in which projectiles were thrown at cars traveling on Highways 156 and 101 near Prunedale. Five people were injured, including four adults and a child, the California Highway Patrol said.

Read: Arrest Made In Projectile-Throwing Case

Lafferty has a part-time home in Monterey County and a home in San Luis Obispo County, Assistant District Attorney Matthew L'Heureux told the Herald. He was working in the restaurant or food delivery business when he was arrested. CHP said last week during a press conference that Lafferty appeared to be surprised at the time of his arrest.

On Monday morning, the Monterey County District Attorney's Office filed additional charges including: 74 counts of assault with a deadly weapon; three counts of child abuse, in cases where children were in cars that were struck; and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, but the DA's office declined to elaborate on the peace officer charges.

Read: Man Facing 79 Charges In Prunedale Projectile-Throwing Case

The 79 charges are up from 21 charges filed last week. Lafferty was arrested and booked into jail Wednesday, jail records show.

Lafferty is being held in lieu of $517,000 bail and is scheduled to return to court next for a Feb. 18 calendar call and Feb. 20 preliminary hearing, the Herald reported.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call CHP's Monterey office at (831) 770-8000.

Read more at the Monterey Herald.