Romeoville Baseball Bat Murder Trial Ends With Plea

JOLIET, IL — The second day of Adam Ballard's murder trial in Courtroom 404 of Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak ended unexpectedly, with a plea bargain that was favorable to the Romeoville murder defendant. Ballard's first-degree murder charge was dropped in exchange for a guilty plea to second-degree murder, a prosecutor's office spokeswoman told Joliet Patch. Ballard was on trial for attacking 55-year-old Richard Pollack with a baseball bat, killing him, in August 2014. He was only 15 years old at the time of the horrific neighborhood attack out in the street.

Ballard's father Mark Ballard has also been incarcerated since August 2014 and his case is still waiting to go trial, jail logs show.

The Will County State's Attorney's Office told Patch that there were inconsistencies with the statements of multiple witnesses as this week's bench trial unfolded, prompting prosecutors and Ballard's criminal defense lawyer to revisit the prospect of a plea deal to bring the case to a resolution.

Under the agreement, Ballard, who is now 19, agreed to plead guilty to second-degree murder and prosecutors will recommend a sentence of 10 years. Prosecutors also agreed to recommend he only serve the sentence at 50 percent, which amounts to five years of incarceration.

Ballard will receive credit for time already served, and that's significant. The Times Weekly newspaper reported nearly five years ago that Adam Ballard was taken into custody, but because of his age, was initially held at the River Valley Juvenile Detention Center.

Adam Ballard has been in custody since Aug. 12, 2014.