Hicks challenges conviction on appeal

NORWALK — After a series of post-trial motions failed to overturn his conviction, Paul Hicks has now taken his case to the Sixth District Court of Appeals, formally challenging the outcome of his murder and kidnapping trial. Hicks was found guilty Dec. 19 of three counts of murder and one count of kidnapping following a jury trial. On Jan. 9, he was sentenced to a term of 25 years to life in prison. Hicks was convicted after a jury found him guilty of the 2001 death of his wife, Regina Hicks. Her body was found in a partially submerged car in rural Huron County. Hicks was charged with her murder over twenty years later. Prosecutors argued the crimes stemmed from a domestic-related incident that resulted in Regina's death, while the defense challenged whether the state proved intent. The court found that the kidnapping directly contributed to Regina's death. Defense makes its case In the weeks following the verdict, defense attorney J. Anthony Rich filed motions asking the court to either grant a new trial or enter a judgment of acquittal. In a motion for a new trial, the defense argued that Hicks was denied a fair trial due to media coverage during the proceedings. That filing states the case received "significant local and national media coverage including but not limited to a live video telecast," and that some witnesses viewed portions of that coverage. The motion further argued that exposure "violated defendant's constitutional rights to a fair trial," including issues tied to the separation of witnesses. According to a ruling by Judge James Conway, court records indicate that jurors were questioned about if they had consumed any media on the case, and Conway denied the motion. A separate motion for acquittal challenged the strength of the state's case, stating the evidence "was insufficient to permit a rational trier of fact to find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt" on the required mental state for the charges. The filing also asked the court to consider reducing the conviction to a lesser offense if an acquittal was not granted. The court did not set aside the verdict, and the case moved forward to the January sentencing. Following sentencing, Hicks was appointed counsel through the Ohio Public Defender's Office to handle the appeal. Calls to the office requesting the name of the attorney assigned to the case were not returned by deadline. On Feb. 9, Hicks filed a notice of appeal to the Sixth District Court of Appeals, challenging the conviction and sentence. The filing states he is appealing "the judgment entry of conviction" issued by the trial court. As part of that process, his attorneys requested a full transcript of the proceedings at state expense, arguing it is necessary to pursue the appeal. The filing states appellate review is "impossible without a trial transcript or adequate substitute." The Sixth District appellate court ordered the full record, including transcripts estimated at 1,850 pages, to be filed by May 4. The court stated no extensions will be granted absent extraordinary circumstances. Once the record is filed, both parties will submit written arguments to the court.