FROM STAFF REPORTS
Garrett James Ballard
BURNET — County records show 21-year-old Garrett James Ballard, who faces a capital murder of multiple persons charge for allegedly gunning down two of his friends, was released from the Burnet County Jail on Dec. 8 on a $500,000 surety bond.
Burnet County investigators have charged Ballard for allegedly murdering Elijah Adam Benson, 17, and Travis Leslie Fox, 26, on Aug. 19 after the three reportedly used hallucinogenic drugs, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
Deputies arrested Ballard on Aug. 19 and booked him into the Burnet County Jail, where he’s been since that date without bond until Oct. 7.
A judge had initially set a $2 million bond on that date, according to jail records.
The $500,000 amount did not list a bond agency.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit, Ballard told investigators he and the two other individuals had purchased some “acid” from another acquaintance and returned to his parent’s residence in the 5800 block of CR 340 to celebrate one of the men’s birthdays.
But sometime during the celebration, Ballard told investigators the two alleged victims began demonstrating “strange and disruptive behaviors.” At some point, Ballard obtained a rifle from his father’s vehicle and shot the other two men, the affidavit stated.
Ballard’s father is Burnet County Precinct 3 Constable Jimmy Ballard. The constable was not home at the time of the incident.
Capital murder case punishments range from life without parole to the death penalty with a conviction. 33rd/424th Judicial District Attorney Sonny McAfee said he did not expect to seek the death penalty.
editor@thepicayune.com
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