On April 12, 2007, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Gerald Sevier imposed prison sentence of 40 years to life on 44 year old Mark Hicks of Porterville.  A jury found the defendant guilty of second degree murder with the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing death on March 9, 2007. 

Crystal Hicks, the defendant’s wife, died of a single shotgun wound to the head on December 11, 2005.  The defendant shot her in the living room of their home in Porterville and then called 911 and told the dispatcher that he shot his wife because she was having an affair with another woman.  Their two children were home at the time of the murder.  Police found the pump action shotgun in the living room and discovered that the defendant had operated the slide on the gun to eject the spent casing and load a new round into the chamber.  At trial the defendant testified that he did not know how the gun went off, but that the shooting was accidental.  He also testified that he had been talking to his wife about the affair before she was killed.  

The Judge sentenced the defendant to serve 40 years to life in prison.  Since the defendant was convicted of murder, the defendant will not get conduct credits towards his sentence.  He will be 83 years old when he is eligible for his first parole hearing.  He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 restitution fine, and over $10,000 in actual restitution.    

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Afreen Kaelble, and investigated by Detective Sam Garcia of the Porterville Police Department and Barry Silva of the District Attorney=s Office Bureau of Investigations.   

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Carol Turner, (559)733-6411