Victim’s children give tearful statements during sentencing
At an emotional sentencing Friday, the 9-year-old daughter of an Oklahoma City murder victim told a judge, “I now can only talk to my daddy when I pray.”
“I miss him all the time. I wish my daddy was here with me,” Marissa Stephenson said.
The victim’s 10-yearold son began to cry after telling the judge, “My daddy was the best.”
After catching his breath, Bryon Stephenson said, “Sometimes I cry myself to sleep because I think about him every night now.”
The emotional statements came during the sentencing for Charlie Joe Hicks III, who was convicted of shooting Shawn Stephenson, 29.
In January, jurors found Hicks guilty of first-degree murder in the May 8, 2015, shooting. The jury chose life in prison as punishment.
Oklahoma County District Judge Michele McElwee Friday sentenced Hicks according to the jurors’ chosen punishment. Hicks will be eligible for parole in his 60s.
Dressed in a gray-striped jail uniform, Hicks, 26, of Oklahoma City, stood shackled before the victim’s children during the sentencing. Hicks did not address the victim’s family.
Assistant District Attorney Ryan Stephenson read a statement written by the victim’s 12-year-old daughter.
“I really miss my dad,” Alyssa Stephenson wrote. “I wish he was here with us. It’s really hard on all of us.”
Police reported the victim stole $800 from Hicks’ girlfriend the day of the shooting. Hicks and a codefendant, Julio Raphael Hernandez, later went to find the victim to get the money back, police reported.
Prosecutors alleged the men found the victim and Hicks shot him. At trial, Hicks’ defense was that he wasn’t present for the shooting. Hicks didn’t testify attrial.
Hernandez pleaded guilty in May 2016 to an amended count, accessory to first-degree murder. He admitted to helping Hicks “conceal evidence and avoid capture” after the murder.
Hernandez also said he witnessed “Hicks fire a gun at Shawn Stephenson.”
Hernandez, now 26, of Oklahoma City, was sentenced according to a plea agreement to six years in prison followed by nine years probation.