Convicted killer gets 25-to-life

NORWALK — A judge on Friday sentenced convicted killer Paul Hicks to more than two decades in prison. Hicks, 50, who was recently convicted by a jury after a weeklong trial in December, received a term of 25 years to life behind bars on counts of murder and kidnapping. Hicks was on trial for the 2001 death of his estranged wife, Regina Rowe Hicks, 23, who was found submerged in a vehicle in a Willard-area pond. Case background Regina Rowe Hicks disappeared on Oct. 18, 2001, after leaving her boyfriend's home to pick up her young son, Montana. She never arrived. Four days later, her white Camaro was discovered submerged in a pond along Section Line Road 30 near Willard with her body inside. This past April, Paul Hicks, of Sandusky, was indicted on three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping, reigniting attention on one of Huron County's longest-running cold cases. Victim impact statements take center stage Before sentencing, a representative for Hicks' adult son, Montana Hicks, delivered a victim impact statement that framed the case not only as a homicide but as a lifelong loss that shaped his life. "As many of you know, I am the son of Regina Rowe Hicks and Paul Hicks," Montana said. "I stand before you as the biggest victim of this tragedy. I grew up without a mother and was shunned by my mother's family and was treated like an outsider." Montana told the court the impact of his mother's death is as raw today as it was during his childhood. In his statement, he appeared to indicate that he did not believe his father killed his mother. "My whole life has been affected by this and is still being affected today," he said. "I can't escape this. To me, there is no justice as to lack of evidence. Nothing has been solved, and nothing will be until the truth comes out about who really did this to my mother." He also told the court of the internal conflict of watching his father be sentenced. "Now I have to hear what has been decided for my dad," Montana said. "Do I feel like he should be punished? No. But anyone who committed a crime should pay. I lost my mom, and now I'm losing my dad." Montana asked the court for leniency, urging mental health treatment rather than incarceration. "As the son of both parties, I am asking you to be lenient and get my dad the help he needs rather than putting him in prison," he said. Motions, objections The hearing opened with defense attorney Anthony Rich requesting a motion for acquittal. Ohio assistant attorney general Micah Ault declined to respond on the record, noting "This does not warrant a response." Huron County Common Pleas Court Judge James Conway said he had reviewed numerous written victim impact statements submitted to the court. "I have reviewed all of those that were received," Conway said. Several statements were read aloud in court. Janet Hecker, Regina Rowe Hicks' aunt, called Hicks a "monster" and said he had "destroyed Montana's life." Her statement was read by Kasaris. The first statements contained vitriolic statements made toward other members of the Hicks family. Defense attorney Rich objected to references to the broader family. "The family is not on trial here," Rich said. The objection was sustained, and the court instructed speakers not to comment on family members and only to address Paul Hicks. Another victim impact statement came from Lisa Hersha, who said Rowe had finally escaped Hicks' control. "She was finally free from your control, and you could never get her back," Hersha said. Prosecutors argue for consecutive sentences During sentencing arguments, prosecutors asked the court to impose consecutive sentences, citing Hicks' conduct and history. Consecutive sentences are when sentences on different charges are served by a defendant one after the other as opposed to concurrent sentences, which are served simultaneously. Kasaris referenced Hicks' misdemeanor record, including insurance fraud, and argued that concurrent sentencing would effectively erase accountability for the kidnapping. "Sentencing him concurrently is like giving him a free kidnapping," Kasaris said. Prosecutors also raised concerns about Hicks' conduct while incarcerated, alleging he violated jail rules by using other inmates' PIN numbers for phone calls and allowing others to use his. Defense attorney Rich argued Hicks had no prior felony convictions and asked the court to impose the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life. Sentence imposed Conway imposed consecutive sentences, totaling 25 years to life, making Hicks eligible for parole after serving 25 years. Following the ruling, assistant Ohio attorney general Micah Ault described the outcome as appropriate. "This was a just result," Ault said. Hicks has an automatic right to appeal, according to the judge, and Rich informed the court that he has had conversations with the public defender's office and they have agreed to handle Hicks' appeal.