Suspect in projectile attacks now facing 79 charges that include child abuse, assault on police officer
SALINAS, Calif. (KION): The suspect in the projectile investigation faces dozens of new charges related to the case, including assault on an officer and child abuse.
52-year-old, Charles Lafferty, was arrested last Wednesday for the crime and is facing 79 charges, 74 of which include assault with a deadly weapon.
The CHP believes he is responsible for using a slingshot to shoot glass marbles at vehicles since February 2019, causing windows to shatter and some individuals to be injured.
This includes children, which is why Lafferty is also facing three counts of child abuse. KION is also learning two law enforcement officers were also hit in these "projectile incidents."
Although lead investigators with the CHP would not confirm which agency the officers were with, KION has matched the names of the officers listed in court documents to the CHP through "Transparent California."
With these new charges Lafferty's bail is now set at $517,000, however CHP Captain, Kyle Foster, says the investigation is ongoing.
Officers are continuing to patrol the area where a majority of the incidents occurred along Highway 101 near Prunedale.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The suspect in a series of projectile attacks spanning from February 2019 to January 2020 has new charges filed against him.
Charles Lafferty, 52, is now facing 79 charges that include assault with a deadly weapon and child abuse. According to Deputy District Attorney Matthew L'heureaux, he is charged with 74 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of child abuse stemming from injures and two new charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer. The silencer charge he initially faced is from another county, so he will not be charged with possessing a silencer in Monterey County.
At his arraignment hearing Monday, the amended complaint was filed and his bail was increased to $517,000. His preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 20.
L'heureaux said Lafferty has a part time residence in Monterey County and San Luis Obispo County. He said Lafferty was employed in food service. So far, investigators have not released a motive.
L'heureaux also said the victims of the attacks are doing well and assumes they may want restitution.
The assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer happened on April 28, according to L'heureaux , and he believes they have a strong case.
At his first court appearance Friday afternoon, he was only charged with nine counts of assault with a deadly weapon and had no child abuse charges. At that appearance, he did not enter a plea and the arraignment hearing was delayed until Monday. The Deputy District Attorney told KION Friday that they had filed the initial charges, but were filing additional reports.
Lafferty was arrested in Nipomo in connection to 69 reports of projectiles in Monterey and San Benito counties. He is accused of hitting vehicles with glass marbles using a slingshot near SR 156 and Highway 101 in Monterey County and SR 156 in San Benito County. Investigators believe he was driving by and hitting random vehicles on the opposite side of the road.
The CHP said five people were injured by broken glass in the attacks, but the injuries were minor. Investigators believe he is the only person involved.
