A Tyler man has been sentenced to life in prison for an attack on his parole officer, which led to a standoff.
Larry Hicks, 47, of Tyler, was sentenced to life in prison in the 114th District Court by a Smith County jury for assault on a public servant, according to a news release from the Smith County District Attorney’s Office.
The victim was Hicks’ parole officer, who on May 21, 2018, went to his Smith County home to check on Hicks’ ankle monitor that the parole officer had installed just three days prior. When the parole officer arrived, he noticed Hicks had cut off the ankle monitor.
After the officer took a picture of Hicks without the ankle monitor, the defendant became enraged and charged the parole officer and assaulted him, according to the information from the DA's office.
When law enforcement arrived, Hicks refused to leave, marking the start of an hour and half standoff with deputies from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.
Once law enforcement learned that Hicks had a pistol in the home, the Smith County SWAT team responded and decided to enter after Hicks repeatedly refused to surrender, according to the DA's office.
Hicks was charged with assault on a public servant and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
At the trial, the jury heard evidence of Hicks’ criminal history, which includes seven prior felony convictions, including a 50-year prison sentence for assaulting a peace officer with a deadly weapon in 1997.
“A life sentence in this case sends a strong message that repeatedly assaulting a public servant or peace officer of this community will not be tolerated”, said Assistant District Attorney Noah Coltman.