Larrison
After receiving a number opportunities to remain free, a former Columbus East football player who admits threatening a classmate with a loaded handgun has been turned over to the Indiana Department of Correction (IDOC) to complete his original four-year sentence.
But Mason D. Larrison, 19, 3572 Grange Drive, has already served a substantial amount of time in jail. Bartholomew Circuit Judge Kelly Benjamin said she will request that Larrison be placed in the minimum security Heritage Trail Correctional Facility in Plainfield, where he can receive mental health treatment.
Defense attorney Sean Thomasson said when all factors are considered, Larrison will likely be released from the DOC in about a year.
Larrison was originally given four years of work release and home detention for running up to a car early last year, pulling out a Taurus 9mm handgun, pointing it at a male student in the backseat and ordering him to get out.
Jealousy over a girl appeared to be Larrison’s motive for the Feb. 2, 2023 incident outside Columbus East High School during a basketball game, a probable cause affidavit stated. The victim said he had received threatening text messages from Larrison earlier that evening. Fortunately, nobody was hurt after the driver of the car pulled away away from Larrison.
On March 30, 2023, Larrison pleaded guilty to the original charge of intimidation while drawing or using a deadly weapon as a Level 5 felony.
Three months later, during his June 14 sentencing hearing, the defendant told the judge he suffered from depression, bipolar disorder and occasional hallucinations. He also claimed to have attempted suicide a few weeks before the court hearing.
The judge ordered Larrison to serve 180 days in jail on a work release program, followed by three-and-a-half years on probation, starting with home detention.
On Wednesday, Benjamin said she recalled a general consensus during the sentencing hearing that Larrison should serve some time behind bars. But the judge took into account he had no criminal history, appeared genuinely remorseful, was taking his prescribed medication as directed, seemed to understand the value of his therapy and had a good support system, she said.
Six months later, a petition to revoke Larrison’s probation was filed on Dec. 15 after he was accused of removing his GPS tracking bracelet. Less than four weeks after being put back in jail, the defendant was reprimanded for violating an inmate rule. By the time Wednesday’s hearing was held, Larrison had two jail reprimands — including one for battery, the judge said.
The defendant was not taking his psychiatric mediation as directed, nor following his mental health plan, Benjamin said. In addition, he would either fall asleep during mandatory therapy sessions or refuse to show up, the judge stated.
When the defendant lost a job, he did not inform his probation officer as required, Benjamin said. While efforts were made to get the defendant’s life back on the right track, it appears it was mostly his mother who was doing most of the work, the judge said.
Benjamin described Larrison’s own efforts at self-improvement or meeting obligations as “reluctant and slow”.
When asked why he had missed so many therapy sessions, Larrison replied he had a reason — but couldn’t remember what it was, Benjamin said.
But he did not want another mental health care provider, the judge explained. Those who did manage to see Larrison a short time for therapy described him as “holding back” and “not being open to counseling,” she said.
During the time that he was on a work release program, his supervisor asked him to do a chore three times, but Larrison refused to do as he was told.
Benjamin also brought up another incident when Larrison got so angry over a video game console at the jail that he punched two holes in a wall.
