Umpire’s Assailant Is Given 3 Years’ Probation

A Sun Valley man accused of pummeling an umpire who ordered the forfeiture of a baseball game at Hansen Dam Park was sentenced Tuesday to three years’ probation.

William M. Laufman, 54, could also be ordered to pay damages to umpire James H. Ellis, 43, following a Dec. 2 restitution hearing before San Fernando Municipal Judge Michael S. Luros.

According to court documents, Laufman joined his wife and three adult sons in a brawl with Ellis when the umpire ordered the California Baseball Assn. game last March 17 stopped because one of the Laufman boys allegedly yelled obscenities at him and hit him in the face with a baseball glove.

Ellis and another umpire, Joe Prieto, told police that the trouble began when Prieto made a call against Robert Laufman, 19, who was pitching for a team called “The Red Machine.” According to a police report, Ellis threw Robert Laufman out of the game when he began yelling obscenities at Ellis for Prieto’s call. Ellis halted the game and awarded a victory to the opposing team when Robert Laufman threw his glove in Ellis’ face, the report said.

As Ellis walked away from the baseball diamond, Joyce Laufman, 47, the pitcher’s mother, blocked the umpire’s path and began swearing at him, the report said. As he tried to walk around her, the woman slapped him in the face, witnesses told police. William and Joyce Laufman and their three sons attacked Ellis when he slapped her back, the police report shows.

Misdemeanor battery charges were filed against all five family members, but charges eventually were dropped against everyone but William Laufman. He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disturbing the peace.

“I’m really a peace-loving person,” Ellis said after the sentencing. “This is not what usually happens in recreation ball, so I’m just taking it as kind of a bump in the road. This is not going to stop me from officiating.”