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==External links==
==External links==

Mack Has Failed Fathers Everywhere
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-27-Tue-2006/opinion/8176631.html

*[http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS/60614002&template=theme&theme=SNIPER News articles related to Darren Mack case, by Reno Gazette-Journal]
*[http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/NEWS/60614002&template=theme&theme=SNIPER News articles related to Darren Mack case, by Reno Gazette-Journal]
*[http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=39208 Mack's profile on ''America’s Most Wanted'']
*[http://www.amw.com/fugitives/brief.cfm?id=39208 Mack's profile on ''America’s Most Wanted'']
*[http://www.doc.nv.gov/notis/detail.php?offender_id=1014861 Nevada Offender Tracking Information System (NOTIS) - Offender Detail Record]
*[http://www.doc.nv.gov/notis/detail.php?offender_id=1014861 Nevada Offender Tracking Information System (NOTIS) - Offender Detail Record]

==See also==
==See also==
* ''[[America's Most Wanted]]''
* ''[[America's Most Wanted]]''

Revision as of 00:21, 22 November 2009

Darren Roy Mack
StatusEly State Prison
Occupation(s)Part-owner, Palace Jewelry & Loan, Merchant, Ebay
Spouse(s)Debra Ashlock (ex-wife),
Charla Mack (deceased)
Children3
ParentJoan Mack
Criminal chargeMurder, attempted murder,
use of deadly weapon,
unlawful flight to avoid prosecution
Penalty20 years to life in prison

Darren Roy Mack (born January 31, 1961) became the subject of an international manhunt in June 2006 after being charged with the stabbing death of his 39-year-old estranged wife Charla Mack in the garage of their Reno, Nevada home. Mack was also suspected and later charged, with the sniper shooting of Family Court Judge Chuck Weller, who was handling the couple’s acrimonious divorce. Charla Mack was murdered after 9:00 a.m. on June 12, 2006, and Judge Weller was shot around 11:05 a.m. on the same day.[1] Judge Weller spent time recovering,[2] and later returned to his courtroom on August 16.[3]

According to a close friend, Mack was angry over a divorce settlement issued by Judge Weller. In addition to child support capped by state law at $849 per month, Darren Mack was ordered to pay $10,000 per month for spousal support plus household expenses.[4] Darren Mack's gross monthly income was approximately $44,000, while his wife had no income.[5]

Mack evaded police for 11 days, during which time he was featured on the Fox TV show America's Most Wanted and the FBI’s Most Wanted website.[6][7] Mack was a hunter and sportsman and records show he owned a .40-caliber Smith and Wesson handgun and a Bushmaster .223 semi-automatic rifle. Police said he possessed a federal firearms license and permit to carry a concealed weapon.[8] A search of his apartment found ammunition and bomb materials.[9] Mack surrendered to Mexican authorities on June 22, 2006 in Puerto Vallarta.[10] The following day he was flown to Dallas, Texas for booking, and returned to Reno.[11] Authorities located Mack’s rented silver colored [[Ford Explorer] in Ensenada, Mexico.

On February 24, 2007, 48 Hours Mystery featured Mack's alleged crimes in a story entitled: "The Darren Mack Case", on CBS[12].

On November 5, 2007, Mack plead guilty to first degree murder and entered an Alford plea on the charge of attempted murder.

Biography

Early life

Darren Mack grew up in northern Nevada and graduated from Reno High School. He attended the University of Nevada on a baseball scholarship. Mack had been involved in the family-owned Palace Jewelry and Loan pawn shop since the age of seven, and at the time of his arrest was a part-owner and ebay merchant. In 2003 his income was estimated at $500,000 annually, and his net worth at $9.4 million. According to his brother Landon Mack, Darren was active politically and, along with his cousins, Nevada pawnbrokers Michael Mack and Steven Mack, founded the Nevada Pawnbroker Association[8]

Marriages

Mack had been previously married, from 1986 to 1991, to Debra Ashlock.[8] The couple had a son and daughter, 17 and 19. According to The Union, this was Mack’s second marriage.[13] He and Charla were married on May 13, 1995; she filed for divorce February 7, 2005. The couple had a daughter, 7. Charla warned a family friend, "He's out to get me and someday he will probably kill me." [14] Ironically, in 1998, a Reno billboard had proclaimed “"The Mack Family Presents: Darren Mack. 1998 Father/Husband of the Year. A unanimous decision by his wife, Charla, and his three wonderful children."[15]

Landmark Education

Both Darren and Charla Mack had volunteered for Landmark Education, an international corporation headquartered in San Francisco, California, until 2002. Darren was a program leader who led seminars called "Communications" courses and Charla was a senior Course Supervisor who was in charge of designing and training course supervisors around the world. [16] Landmark Education offers The Landmark Forum. Charla was the Course Supervisor of the first Landmark Forum in the Philippines.[17] According to a message posted on Darren’s MySpace[18] page, he led Landmark’s Communication Courses[19]. During the February 2007 broadcast of "The Darren Mack Case", on 48 Hours Mystery, the program mentioned that Darren and Charla shared an interest in Landmark Education, self-improvement, and awareness training[12].

Trial

Mack was formerly defended by Reno attorney Scott Freeman and David Chesnoff from Las Vegas. Chesnoff has built a national reputation by representing celebrities including Martha Stewart and Britney Spears.[20] The Washoe county District Attorney recused his office from the case, because of a long-standing personal relationship with Darren Mack, and because he could be a witness. [21] Chief Deputy DA Robert Daskas and Assistant DA Christopher Lalli of the Clark county District Attorney’s office will handle the prosecution. [22]

At a preliminary hearing August 30, 2006, Mack was held over for trial. Mack's defense attorneys sought a court-ordered mental competency evaluation for Mack. [23] After a senior judge disqualified the Washoe County bench, Clark County District Judge Douglas Herndon, of Las Vegas, was appointed to the case. [24] Prosecutors handling the case announced they will not seek the death penalty. [25] At an arraignment on September 13, 2006, Mack pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial was set for October 1, 2007. [26] As of October 4, 2006, his attorney Scott Freeman tried to get his attempted murder charge dropped [27]. On October 13, 2006: "A senior judge has disqualified all Washoe District Court judges from a list of civil cases involving Darren Mack."[28]

On November 5, 2007, Mack pleaded guilty to first degree murder and entered an Alford plea to the attempted murder charge, just as the trial was to begin, in exchange for a recommendation for life in prison (with parole available after 20 years) by the prosecutor. The judge is not bound by the sentencing recommendation. Mack said during the plea, "I do understand right now in my state of mind that shooting at the judiciary is not a proper form of political redress." [29].

Mack attempted to withdraw his pleas, saying he was coerced by his attorneys Chesnoff and Freeman and that his signature was forged.

Judge Douglas Herndon denied Mack's motion to withdraw, filed by his new defense attorney William Routsis.

During sentencing, Routsis continued to renew his requests for Herndon to grant Mack a new trial.

Herndon sentenced Mack to life in prison for murdering his wife. He also gave Mack the maximum sentences for the attempted murder of Judge Chuck Weller and a deadly weapon enhancement. The sentences run consecutively, rendering Mack ineligible for parole for at least 36 years. Another hearing on his arguments was scheduled for April 2008.

On March 18, 2008, a Washoe County jury delivered a $590 million settlement against Mack in the wrongful death lawsuit of his wife, Charla. $560 million was awarded to the couple's young daughter, Erika, while the rest will go to his wife's estate.

On August 8, 2009, CBS, in an updated segment of "48 Hours Mystery" reported that Mack continues to appeal his conviction (on grounds that he pled guilty under duress) and is also appealing the $590 million civil judgment.

Judge Weller has filed a personal injury lawsuit against Mack, seeking compensatory and punitive damages.

Mack claims he has no money left.

References

  1. ^ O’Malley, Jaclyn (2006-06-15). "Mack search update and timeline of events". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-07-09.
  2. ^ Bellisle, Martha (2006-06-28). "'I'm just healing,' judge says". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-07-09.
  3. ^ Bellisle, Martha (2006-08-17). "Lawyers welcome Judge Weller back to his courtroom". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-09-03.
  4. ^ "Family Court Judge Chuck Weller's [[May 24]], [[2005]] order in Darren and Charla Mack's divorce" (PDF). 2nd Judicial District Court, Nevada. 2005-05-24. Retrieved 2006-09-03. {{cite news}}: URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  5. ^ Bellisle, Martha (2006-06-14). "Mack left 'angry' by divorce settlement, friend says". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-08-13.
  6. ^ CNN, Transcript, June 21, 2006, Nancy Grace, Darren Mack Put on FBI`s Most-Wanted List.
  7. ^ Federal Bureau of Investigation - Las Vegas Field Division - Press Release June 15, 2006
  8. ^ a b c Bellisle, Martha (2006-06-18). "Father's Day fugitive". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-07-08.
  9. ^ Bellisle, Martha (2006-06-20). "Mack's room held bomb parts". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
  10. ^ Federal Bureau of Investigation - Las Vegas Field Division - Press Release June 23, 2006
  11. ^ Bellisle, Martha (2006-06-24). "Mack turns himself in, booked into Washoe jail". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
  12. ^ a b Template:Citation The episode re-aired on May 3, 2008.
    What led to the shooting of Judge Weller and the murder of Charla Mack? And was there a connection between the two cases? Troy Roberts reports on the investigation and what detectives believe may have led to the violence... Charla eventually gave up acting and moved back to Reno. When she started dating Darren Mack, they seemed a perfect match. Friends say they also shared an interest in a self-awareness training group called Landmark Education. "He was really into self improvement. He liked going to seminars about improving himself all the time. Achieving his goals. Which was money, money, money," says writer Amanda Robb.
  13. ^ Moormeister, Robyn (2006-06-15). "Shooting suspect's family members leave town". The Union. Retrieved 2006-07-09.
  14. ^ Bellisle, Martha (6/116/2006). "Charla Mack foresaw violent acts". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-07-08. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ Lithwick, Dahlia (2006-06-18). "The Fall of the Father of the Year". The Washington Post. p. B02. Retrieved 2006-07-08.
  16. ^ Lee, Henry K.; et al. (2006-06-15). "Reno man called kin after judge was shot". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2006-07-09. {{cite news}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
  17. ^ Web site, "I Love Possibility", Landmark Forum in Manila, Charla Mack as Course Supervisor, online
  18. ^ Darren Mack, MySpace page, online
  19. ^ Ross, Rick (2006-06-21). "Alleged murderer and sniper linked to Landmark Education". Cult News. Retrieved 2006-07-10.
  20. ^ Bellisle, Martha (7/2/2006). "Mack puts together diverse legal team". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-07-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  21. ^ O’Malley, Jaclyn (7/6/2006). "DA's office won't try Mack case". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-07-10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ Staff Report (8/2/2006). "Darren Mack's preliminary hearing rescheduled for Aug. 30". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-08-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ O’Malley, Jaclyn (9/1/2006). "Chief justice to pick judge in Mack case". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-09-03. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ Bellisle, Martha (9/6/2006). "Judge appointed to Mack case". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-09-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  25. ^ Bellisle, Martha (9/12/2006). "Prosecutor won't seek death penalty in Mack case". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-09-19. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Bellisle, Martha (2006-09-14). "Mack pleads not guilty to killing wife, shooting judge". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved 2006-09-19.
  27. ^ Reno Gazette-Journal, October 3, 2006, online
  28. ^ KOLO TV, Washoe Judges Disqualified in Mack Civil Cases, retrieved 1/16/2007.
  29. ^ Man pleads in Nev. courthouse shooting

Mack Has Failed Fathers Everywhere http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Jun-27-Tue-2006/opinion/8176631.html

See also

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