Print

Gunman in Deputy Dixon murder sentenced to life in prison with no parole, 2 co-defendants get life

By AccessWDUN staff
Posted 6:12PM on Thursday 8th July 2021 ( 3 years ago )

The convicted gunman in the murder of Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon has been sentenced to a life prison term without the possibility of parole. 

Hall County Superior Court Judge Jason Deal pronounced sentence on Hector Garcia-Solis, 19, just before 2:30 p.m., calling the entire case "a tragedy."

The co-conspirators in the murder also were sentenced to life prison sentences, but according to terms of the sentences for Edgar Velazquez and London Clements, both men could possibly be paroled after serving at least three decades behind bars. Both men are 19-years-old.

Because all three men were 17-years-old at the time of Dixon's murder, the death penalty was not an option for sentencing. 

The sentencing hearing in Hall County Superior Court began shortly after 9 a.m. in a packed courtroom and did not conclude until almost 2:30 p.m. with emotional testimony presented on behalf of the defendants and on behalf of the fallen deputy.

Araceli Solis, the mother of Garcia-Solis, asked Deal to consider a second chance for her son. Through an interpreter, she apologized to Hector. 

"If you'll allow me to tell him something, I want his forgiveness for not being able to guide him properly," Solis said.

Garcia-Solis took the stand, as well, to ask forgiveness from Dixon's family, telling them he wished he would have died during the exchange of gunfire the night of July 7, 2019.

"The pain that I've put on y'all doesn't ever leave me," Garcia-Solis said, weeping. "The pain that I've put on his mother, his father, his wife, his children...his brothers and sisters in blue...I've put such pain on them and I just can't get over what I've done to him."

The tears did not move Blane Dixon's family members. Fred Dixon, the fallen deputy's father, minced no words when he took the stand to give his impact statement.

"I do not forgive y'all - at all," Fred Dixon said. "You made a clear choice that night. It would have only took one person sitting in that car [and] not running and that would have been enough to stop my son and end the chase."

Dixon's brothers both addressed the court, telling the judge about the void the deputy's murder has left on their lives. His mother told the court about sleepless nights and anxiety-filled days since her son was killed.

In a statement offered by Dixon's widow Stephanie, she talked about her young sons. She said Blane had chosen the name for their youngest child, who was just four-months-old when he father was killed.

"He picked Colt Justice Dixon, and that's all I'm asking for, honestly," Stephanie Dixon said, also describing the grief of her oldest son Caden, who cries himself to sleep nightly over the loss of his father.

Stephanie Dixon also said her husband did not die in vain.

"Because of my husband, our community became a safer place for not only our two children that we have together but for all of our family and everyone here. Because of my husband, many lives will be changed," she said. "Blane laid his life down to better our community. I know many of you will forget most of what I'm saying - if not all of it - but due to my husband's impact and his heroism, the name Nicolas Blane Dixon will never be forgotten."

As he pronounced sentence on Garcia-Solis, Deal talked about the courage displayed by Deputy Dixon the night of his death, pausing to gather his composure when he became emotional.

Deal acknowledged the emotional testimony from Garcia-Solis and the appeals from his attorneys to recognize the remorse of their client. However, Deal pointed to the criminal history of the convicted gunman, as well as the behavior he displayed while hospitalized with gunshot wounds he suffered the night of the deputy's murder.

"When he shoots and kills a police officer and is in the hospital charged with murder, shot four times, been in a coma. He's flipping off deputies, acting like he's shooting them with his 'finger gun' and groping nurses, kicking nurses, spitting on nurses...I don't know what else, Mr. Garcia, could possibly change your behavior," Deal said. "This is a tragedy and while I consider your youth, I can't find a more compelling case in which to impose a sentence of life without parole."

Brayan Cruz, a fourth defendant in the case, who testified against his friends at trial, is awaiting sentencing. 

The sentences against Garcia-Solis, Velazquez and Clements were imposed on the two-year anniversary of Nicolas Blane Dixon's death.

 

London Clements enters the courtroom Thursday to face sentencing in the 2019 murder of Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Blane Dixon. Clements was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for his involvement in the crime. (Photo: Lauren Hunter)
Judge Jason Deal presides over the courtroom Thursday during the sentencing hearing for the three men found guilty in the 2019 murder of Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Blane Dixon. Deal handed down one life sentence without parole for Hector Garcia-Solis, who was convicted of killing Dixon, as well as two life sentences for Garcia-Solis's co-conspirators. (Photo: Lauren Hunter)
Blane Dixon's younger brother Jeremy shows the court the bracelet and the watch that belonged to his brother, the two material items he has to remind him of his brother every day. (Photo: Lauren Hunter)
Fred Dixon, the father of fallen Deputy Blane Dixon, told the three defendants their choices led to their death of his son. He told them bluntly "I do not forgive y'all - at all." (Photo: Lauren Hunter)
Stephanie Dixon, widow of Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Blane Dixon, issued a victim impact statement Thursday during the sentencing hearing. Dixon spoke specifically of how losing her husband has affected her two young sons. (Photo: Lauren Hunter)
Araceli Solis, mother of Hector Garcia-Solis, steps down from the stand after making a statement during Thursday's sentencing hearing. Garcia-Solis was sentenced to life without parole for the 2019 murder of Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Blane Dixon. (Photo: Lauren Hunter)
Hector Garcia-Solis weeps on the stand as he speaks to the court during his sentencing hearing in Hall County Superior Court Thursday morning. (Photo: Lauren Hunter)
Chief Assistant District Attorney Wanda Vance (right) speaks to Hector Garcia-Solis (far left) shortly before the sentencing. Garcia-Solis was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without parole for the 2019 murder of Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Blane Dixon. (Photo: Lauren Hunter)
Eric Velasquez enters the courtroom Thursday to face sentencing for the 2019 murder of Hall County Sheriff's Deputy Blane Dixon. Velasquez was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. (Photo: Lauren Hunter)

http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/7/1020516/convicted-gunman-sentenced-to

© Copyright 2015 AccessNorthGa.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.