David Ballard
A man who pulled a gun at Hamilton Place Mall and set off a panic is set to be released from jail soon after serving just over seven months behind bars.
David Ballard, who is now 19, appeared before Judge Don Poole on Tuesday morning.
He was earlier given a two-year suspended sentence for the mall incident in February in which some patrons were hurt when there was a stampede when someone hollered, "He's got a gun."
Ballard was soon in trouble again after being released from jail.
He was arrested in late April at the Emma Wheeler Homes after a short foot chase. He had been trespassing at the Chattanooga Housing Authority property.
Police found a fully loaded gun in the car he was driving. There was ammunition under his passenger seat.
Police said Ballard went on Facebook to declare that he owned the gun and that he ran from police. He also told about cutting off his ankle bracelet.
On Tuesday, Ballard was given an additional two-year sentence - this one to serve. However, he has built up enough time that he should be released soon rather than going off to state prison.
Judge Poole said he is a Range 1 Offender, which means he would be eligible for parole consideration after serving a third of the new sentence. He gets credit on the state sentence for time served in the jail.
The judge asked Ballard, "You don't want to spend the rest of your life in a red suit, do you?" He said he is headed that was unless he changes.
Boyd Patterson of the Public Defender's Office said Ballard "is highly intelligent. He is smart enough to do whatever he wants to do."
He said it is hoped that Ballard, who is banned from Hamilton Place Mall, will go into a program to learn welding.