Garcia facing 50-to-life

A Placer County Superior Court judge found "beyond a reasonable doubt" Tuesday that Mario Garcia's prior felony offense will count as a strike. He now faces 50-years-to-life in prison.A jury convicted Garcia, 54, of Auburn, Nov. 21 of first-degree murder in the 2005 death of 27-year-old Christie Wilson. That conviction alone was worth 25-to-life. But a prior conviction, or strike, will double that prison sentence.Judge Larry D. Gaddis reviewed evidence submitted by prosecutor Garen Horst including documents from the California Department of Justice and preliminary hearing transcripts relating to a 1979 charge of assault with a deadly weapon. In November 1981 in Alameda County Garcia pleaded guiltily to the felony charge that was reduced to a misdemeanor in May 1988. Judge Gaddis ruled that the original plea to a felony counts as a strike, which will double the minimum sentence of 25 years to 50 years.Garcia sat shackled and handcuffed wearing a jail-issued orange jumpsuit between his two attorneys. He appeared not to have shaven in days. His attorneys, Ron Peters and David Dratman declined to comment.Wilson's family appeared satisfied with the results."We feel good about the decision, but this is for past victims," Pat Boyd, Wilson's stepfather said outside the courtroom. "People suffered a long time ago it's about time they got something."Wendy Ward is one of those people.She said in an interview with the Journal that Garcia raped her on Jan. 12, 1979 in Alameda County.At the time the Alameda County District Attorney's Office recommended that Garcia be charged with one count of kidnapping, two counts of forcible rape, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of burglary. But when it was all said and done he pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon. "My No. 1 thought is to put him away so he never hurts anyone again," Ward said in an exclusive interview with the Journal.She expressed her disappointment with the judicial system."Had he been put away then Christie would still be alive," Ward said. "This didn't have to happen. It's just didn't have to happen."Ward and Garcia met in the Bay Area where Ward had relocated after going through a divorce. Garcia befriended her and encouraged her to take computer science classes. Eventually he moved in with her. That's when his behavior changed and the abuse began."He said if I tried to leave he would kill me," Ward said.She moved out but Garcia found her.According to court documents obtained by the Journal, Garcia forced Ward from her car and into his Ford van where he subdued her with a choke hold and raped her.Ward, who was about the same age as Christie Wilson at the time (27), fought Garcia leaving scratches on his face.Garcia reportedly took Ward back to his apartment where he raped her once more, according to the court documents.After the second assault Garcia went to a cabinet in the room and removed a handgun. He placed a magazine into the gun, pointed at Ward and pulled the trigger - Ward heard a "click," according to court documents."The suspect then asked the victim, 'Have you ever considered suicide?'" documents state.Garcia then approached Ward with the gun up against her closed lips."(He) pulled back the hammer again with his thumb and pulled the trigger. Ward heard a second "click." (Garcia) then told (her), 'I don't have any bullets - this time.'"It was this assault that will now add 25 years to Garcia's murder sentence.Garcia is believed to have been the last person to see Wilson alive in the early morning hours of Oct. 5, 2005. They were seen leaving the Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln together on casino video surveillance tape. Wilson has not been seen or heard from since."We just want to know where our daughter is," said Debbie Boyd, Wilson's mother. Pat Boyd, Wilson's stepfather, said Tuesday he believes Christie's remains could be in Nevada County."The first call from (Garcia's) cell phone the day Christie disappeared was north of his Auburn home," Pat Boyd said. "We want those living in the Nevada City area to re-examine their property for anything and look for our daughter."Garcia remains in custody at Placer County Jail on $3 million bail and is scheduled to be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 11, 2007, the day after what would have been Wilson's 29th birthday in an Auburn Courtroom.Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com. 28 fifty years1.tif: Wendy Ward was victimized by Mario Garcia decades ago and was pleased with a judge's decision to count that assault as a felony against Garcia doubling his prison term.28fiftyyears2.tif: Debbie and Pat Boyd, whose daughter Christie Wilson was murdered by Mario Garcia, learned Tuesday that he now faces 50-years-to-life for the murder.28fiftyyears2.tif: A Placer County Judge ruled Tuesday that convicted murderer Mario Garcia, 54, of Auburn, now has two strikes against him and faces 50-year-to-life behind bars. (Art by Ben)Mug: Garcia, Mario.tif:By Penne UsherJournal Staff Writer