Myers receives 10 year manslaughter sentence for killing father

PALMER— Mark Myers, 26 of Wasilla received a 10 year sentence after accepting a plea bargain of manslaughter for shooting and killing his father, Julian Myers during a sentencing hearing Friday, June 25 at the Palmer Courthouse.

Palmer Judge, Kristen Stohler continued Myers’ sentencing from Monday, June 21 to make her last considerations.

Myers was originally charged with two counts of murder in the second degree and one count of Manslaughter. The incident occurred late at night on Christmas Eve 2018. Myers was indicted by a Palmer Grand Jury in March of 2019.

Myers claimed to be acting in self-defense and protecting his two brothers when he shot and killed their father during a domestic altercation.

Stohler said that she took several factors into consideration before accepting the plea agreement.

“Even if Mr. Myers believed that he was acting in defense of himself or his brothers, there’s no denying that he took a life. He made a decision to not only introduce a firearm into that situation, but to pull the trigger, and that came at a significant cost,” Stohler said. “As a society, we have identified very limited circumstances where our laws and our norms justify that level of force, and I think that this sentence recognizes that.”

Glenn Shidner, representing the state, said the state conferred with Myers’ family members and felt that the plea agreement was appropriate for the case. He shared a victim’s impact statement from Myers’ brother, Matt Myers, and read his words to the court, “I think the plea offer is very fair and is everyone’s best interest. If I could, I would like to spare my family [from a lengthy trial]...”

Stohler said that she trusted the State’s decision to charge Myers with manslaughter.

“I put a lot of stock in the state’s evaluation of this case… by making this offer is hoping to provide the family with some sense of finality, at least to the outcome of the criminal case,” Stohler said.

Stohler sentenced Myers to 15 years in prison with five years suspended, leaving 10 to serve.

Several family members have addressed the court throughout the trial, raising concerns about topics such as the total time served and matters of mental health.

“I recognize that it’s not just the loss of a beloved family member, but it also has caused the fracturing of family relationships… I heard the heartbreak of family members who spoke and I don’t discount that in any way,” Stohler said. “I heard from a number of family members who are disappointed and frustrated and angry at the outcome of this case. But, I also note there are also other family members who, including family members who were present during this incident who believe this is a fair and appropriate resolution.”

Julian’s mother, Dianne Myers; and his sisters, sisters, Linda Hitesman and Sharon Aubrey walked out of the Palmer Courthouse together.

“I’m not okay with the plea bargain… It’s just totally confusing,” Myers said.

All three women expressed their frustrations with the manslaughter charge, feeling that 10 years was not a long enough sentence for Myers’ actions.

“This isn’t justice,” Hitesman said. “He should get more than six years… It’s not right at all.”

Stohler added an additional condition to Myers’ probation that requires him to obtain a mental health evaluation and follow treatment recommendations.

“I also agree with what Mr. Shidner said… that there’s no evidence that Mr. Meyers was suffering from a mental health condition at the time of the offense,” Stohler said.

Stohler said the state and defense have 10 days to file an objection to the additional probation condition. She said that she will not enter the final judgment until she considers any objections if any are raised within that time.

“I hope he doesn’t reject it, and I hope everyone can move forward in a healthy way,” Aubrey said.

This is a developing story. Continue to see frontiersman.com for more coverage.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com