APNewsBreak: Man charged in Pa. stabbing rampage had failed to finish anger management therapy

APNewsBreak: Pa. stabbing suspect in anger therapy

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A convicted murderer charged in the weekend stabbing deaths of four people in eastern Pennsylvania was paroled in 2006 but put back behind bars two years ago for failing to complete anger management therapy.

Michael Ballard was released again two months ago. He is charged with four counts of homicide in Saturday’s rampage in Northampton, about 70 miles north of Philadelphia.

Ballard pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and other counts in 1992 and was sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison.

He was released to a halfway house in 2006 after completing about half of his sentence. Pennsylvania parole board spokesman Leo Dunn says Ballard was returned to prison in 2008 because he failed to complete court-ordered anger management therapy. Ballard was released again to a halfway house on April 19.