Copyright, The Republic, Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ind. — An 18-year-old local man pleaded guilty Thursday in Bartholomew Circuit Court to making verbal threats against a fellow teenager while pointing a handgun at him in the Columbus East High School parking lot following a basketball game.
Mason D. Larrison, 18, 3572 Grange Drive., entered a guilty plea to intimidation while drawing or using a deadly weapon during an initial hearing. If convicted, of the Level 5 felony, the former Columbus East senior and football player could face one to six years in prison, as well as a fine of up to $10,000.
Besides accepting the original felony charge, Larrison also agreed to an open plea that will allow Judge Kelly Benjamin to determine the sentence within the confines of state statutes.
Following the Columbus East-Brownstown Central basketball game on Feb. 2, the victim was a passenger in a vehicle occupied by two others in the East school parking lot. That’s when Larrison ran up to the vehicle, the probable cause affidavit states. “Larrison pulled out a handgun and pointed it into the back seat of the vehicle where (his ex-girlfriend’s companion) was sitting,” according to the affidavit. ”Larrison told (the young man) to get out of the vehicle. Larrison attempted to open the rear door of the vehicle, but (the victim) was able to hold the door shut.” Although the driver sped away from the scene, Larrison attempted to follow them in another vehicle, but the three were eventually able to lose their pursuer and then called police.
For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.