Michael L. Balance, 60, was convicted of second-degree murder last week in connection to the 2021 death of John Hoffman, 70.
A Johnson County jury found Balance, of Des Moines, Iowa, guilty on Oct. 19, more than two years after Hoffman was killed in early May 2021.
What court documents say
- The jury found Balance guilty on murder of the second-degree, which is noted as “intentional” in court documents.
- However, the jury found Balance not guilty on one count of premeditated murder of the first degree, according to court documents.
What happened?
- Officers arrived at the Deauville Apartments off 75th Street in Prairie Village just after 6 p.m. on May 1, 2021.
- Hoffman was found dead in his apartment when officers arrived.
- At the time, foul play was suspected, Prairie Village officers said in a news release.
- Two days later, Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe announced that Balance faced a premeditated first-degree murder charge.
- Balance remains in custody on a $1 million bond, according to court documents.
What’s next:
- Balance is expected to appear before the court at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 15 for a sentencing hearing, according to court documents.
- The sentencing hearing will take place in Johnson County District Court Division 15 by Judge Michael Joyce.
Go deeper: Suspect arrested, victim identified in deadly shooting at Prairie Village apartment
