Henderson County felon sentenced to 28 years in prison

Convicted Felon Sentenced to 28 years for Possession of a Firearm

On February 2, 2022, the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, along with several other law enforcement agencies, were involved in an operation to arrest subjects that had been indicted by the Henderson County, Tennessee, Grand Jury. Ronald David “Boo” Ballard, fifty–three (53) years of age, was found at 8470 Highway 104 North, Cedar Grove, in Henderson County, Tennessee. Ballard had a warrant for his arrest, and while taking him into custody, deputies observed the butt of a pistol in plain view between the cushions of the chair where Ballard had been sitting. 

Ballard has a lengthy criminal history that includes a 1999 conviction for Facilitation of First–Degree Murder, for which he sentenced to the maximum of twenty–five (25) years. Ballard also has several convictions that occurred between 1990 and 1991, including: two (2) convictions for Burglary; two (2) convictions for Theft over $1000; seven (7) convictions for Theft over $500; three (3) convictions for Theft under $500; Aggravated Burglary; Vandalism over $500; and Hindering a Secured Creditor 

On August 1, 2023, the Henderson County Grand Jury returned a fifteen–count indictment related to his possession of the pistol on February 2, 2022. On November 15, 2024, a Henderson County jury convicted Ballard of all counts of the indictment. On February 7, 2025, Judge Joseph Howell found Ballard to be a persistent offender and sentenced him to twenty–eight (28) years in the Tennessee Department of Correction. He must serve 85% of the sentence before he is eligible for parole. 

“On October 30, 2019, the Defendant was released from prison after being convicted of Facilitation of First–Degree Murder. Just over two years after his release from prison, he was found to be in possession of firearm, which by virtue of his fifteen (15) prior felony convictions, he is prohibited from possessing,” said District Attorney General Jody Pickens. “Ronald ‘Boo‘ Ballard refused to obey the law and be a productive member of society. Since 1991 he has been involved in murder, theft, and burglary, but with this sentence he will no longer be in a position to victimize the good citizens of Henderson County, which became a better, safer place to live upon his incarceration. I appreciate the sentence handed down by Judge Howell, the investigative police work performed by the Henderson County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation that led to Ballard’s arrest, as well Assistant District Attorney General Eric Wood who very capably represented the citizens of Tennessee at trial. Lastly, thank you to the members of the jury who heard the proof, applied the law, and returned a verdict that in my estimation, justice dictated.“

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