Firearm charge dropped against Hillsboro man

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A Hillsboro man who allegedly fired a weapon while intoxicated last month in Hillsboro saw that charge dropped on Friday in Hillsboro Municipal Court, and instead received a suspended jail sentence along with being put on reporting probation for separate charges.

Edward Henize, 61, Hillsboro, pled guilty to telephone harassment, a first-degree misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, a fourth-degree misdemeanor, receiving a 90-day suspended jail sentence on the first charge and a 30-day suspended jail sentence on the second.

Two other charges of discharging a firearm while intoxicated and aggravated menacing, both first-degree misdemeanors, were dismissed.

As previously reported by The Times-Gazette, Henize was arrested in April after Hillsboro police officers responded to several reports of gunshots in the Taylor Court area, according to a press release from the Hillsboro Police Department.

An HPD affidavit in the case states HPD officers initially made contact with Sherry Ballein, 67, Hillsboro, who was sitting inside a Taylor Court residence.

According to the affidavit, Ballein said she had heard Henize shooting a gun outside the home, but did not see him carry one outside.

According to a separate affidavit from the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, charges had been filed against Henize earlier in the evening after a woman had reported that Henize threatened to shoot her, family members and law enforcement officials.

Officers entered the home with the charges, according to the HPD affidavit, and found Henize inside the home lying next to an AR-74 rifle.

According to an HPD affidavit, “We announced ourselves as police and the male did not respond.” Henize was ordered to “come out with nothing in his hands” but “he then moved his arm up by the rifle,” according to the affidavit.

Henize “continued to not comply with commands when officers were able to secure (his) arms where he was taken into custody,” the affidavit states.

According to the affidavit, after Henize was taken into custody he was found to be too intoxicated to walk.

Ballein was also arrested when Henize was taken in. She was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing officers and failure to obey, according to court records.

Ballein and Henize were both taken to the Highland County Justice Center, according to the affidavit.

Records show all three charges against Ballein were dismissed Friday.

In addition to probation, Henize was ordered to complete 40 hours of community service, as well as any recommended counseling at Family Recovery Services, according to court documents.

Court records show Henize has a record of disorderly conduct and misuse of firearms.

Henize was represented by defense attorney Bill Armintrout. The case is set for a review hearing Sept. 18.

Reach David Wright at 937-402-2570, or on Twitter @DavidWrighter.

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Henize pleads guilty to harassment, disorderly conduct

By David Wright

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