The court upheld an earlier ruling by a three-justice panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal, which rejected the defense’s contention that the trial judge erred by refusing to tell jurors in Marvin Travon Hicks‘ murder retrial that the defendant had been convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter by the first jury to hear the case against him.
The first panel convicted Hicks in April 2014 of one count each of gross vehicular manslaughter and DUI causing injury and two counts of evading, but deadlocked 11-1 in favor of guilt on the murder charge.
The second jury to hear the case against him convicted him in October 2014 of second-degree murder for the Dec. 6, 2012, death of 2-year-old Madison Faye Ruano.
In its 2015 ruling, the 2nd District Court of Appeal panel found the evidence of defendant’s guilt on the murder charge to be “overwhelming.”
The state Supreme Court, in its ruling Thursday, echoed that sentiment.
“Defendant acted with complete disregard for human life, and he did so in an alert state of mind,” according to the ruling. “He admitted a general awareness that his actions were dangerous. Moreover, he demonstrated, while driving, his ability to make intentional decisions, and his comments immediately after the fatal collision indicated his full awareness of the intentional decisions he had just made, including driving through a red light.”
Hicks was believed to be driving at least 70 mph while heading west on Avenue I when he slammed his black Toyota into a blue Lexus at 10th Street West, killing the child and seriously injuring her mother, Tina Marie Ruano.
A number of area intersections were closed in an effort to rush the girl to Antelope Valley Hospital, with a trauma surgeon testifying that “it felt like forever” that emergency room personnel tried unsuccessfully to save her life, Kleffman said after the verdict.
Sheriff’s deputies ordered Hicks out of his car at gunpoint after the crash, according to the prosecutor.
At Hicks’ sentencing last year, the girl’s father said he was “robbed of getting to hold my little girl because there was a criminal act that had to do with her death.”
“We were robbed of Madison’s life and all the experiences we were going to have with her because of the actions of Marvin Hicks,” Mike Ruano said. “Please ensure that he won’t ever get out and do this to another family.”
Previous related stories:
Man’s conviction upheld for Lancaster crash that killed 2-year-old girl
Man gets 22 to life for death of toddler during police pursuit
Man found guilty in death of toddler during police pursuit
Man to be retried for murder of Lancaster toddler
Community bands together for Baby Madison memorial
Hicks charged with murder in crash that killed toddler
Memorial established for toddler killed in crash
Lancaster toddler killed by driver fleeing police
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Mars says
Life is Short..May we all find Peace in this World or the next..
Theresa says
I’m sorry, sir. The reverend Al Sharpton is sunning himself, poolside to his palatial estate, and cannot be bothered for comment. Please leave your name and brief message at the tone.
aManOfTruth says
How dare you! Reverend AL is a man of the people! To imply he is influenced by greed and would take advantage of his own people for personal gain is just…. well….. believable…. seems like everyone is a crook these days…
Kimberly K. says
Yep,
Al Sharpton is a huge fraud. He’s nothing but a pompous self-glorifying attention seeking jerk. He’s as crooked as they come. He’s a power hungry media wholr He’s also faced charges of fraud and larceny brought by the State Attorney General’s office.
He has an extensive record of deceit, lying, and fraud. “Sharpton infamously lavished his [then] girlfriend, who was also executive director of NAN, with luxury hotel stays valued at $4,000 per night—not to mention “a Mercedes, a Caddy, a $7,000 Rolex, mink coats, David Yurman jewels, and a Trump apartment.”
He’s such a liar he’d beat you senseless and tell God you fell off a horse.
I Know Everything says
Well, Kimberly. Al Sharpton has always spoken kindly of you.
Alexis says
(I Know Everything) has a great sense of humor. Thank you!
Valley resident says
I have lived long enough to know that the Tim Scott’s of this world that too often label other people racist, are actually the ones that are hiding their own ugly racist agenda.
Another Valley resident says
I have lived long enough to know that when the mayor of Lancaster sends out a political hit mailer calling an African American veteran a ‘gang candidate’ that it is a racist act.
Be kind says
You’re right (Valley resident). Commenters mocking Al Sharpton and his agenda, with racist overtones. Making this about color instead of the mind-set.
Tim Scott says
Hey, ‘NoH8’…are you ‘Valley resident’ in disguise, or are you just his little follower?
Dr. Robert says
that he only specializes in white-on-black violence, the good Reverent Sharpton is of absolutely no use to anyone, here.
Yamilet B says
My hope is tha Tina may be granted a full measure of comfort through the loss of her innocent little girl Madison. Knowing that she is in the memory of our Grand Creator and soon we shall be together with her in the ‘new world’. (2 Pt. 3:13)
Heavy Heart says
WHY DO COPS CONTINUE TO PURSUE THESE HIGH SPEED CHASES…GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE CAR AND LET THEM ROLL ON, THERE ISN’T MANY PLACES HE COULD HAVE GOTTEN UP HERE…THEY SO DAMN BEND ON GETTING SOMEONE INTIL THEY PLACE THE INNOCENT LIVES AT RISK…MORE SWEET BABY, MY HEART AND PRAYERS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS…HICKS WILL NEVER RECEIVE THE PUNISHMENT HE SHOULD GET…HE’S LIVING ON IN THE SYSTEM THAT WILL CARE FOR HIM UNTIL HE MOST LIKELY DIE OF NATRAL CAUSES, UNLIKE THE SWEET BABY…
J. Doe says
Sorry, with all due respect, you have no idea what you are talking about. This guy was observed by an unmarked car driving recklessly at a high rate of speed. When he crashed, murdering Madison, the closest unit was at least half a mile behind him. This man, if you will pardon the expression was “tripping balls” and had no idea of any law enforcement activity. The reports that this was a pursuit, while perhaps technically accurate were not realistic. Sadly, this man would have murdered Madison regardless of whether a unit was within a country mile of him.
One other thing to consider, law enforcement has a duty to apprehend suspects who present an immediate danger to the public. Its a no-win situation because it there was no “pursuit” and he still killed someone, the community would ask why he was not “pursued.”
It is never an easy row to hoe. Don’t underestimate the effects these incidents have on first responders.
Tim Scott says
Since you seem to be “in the know,” I have a couple questions from comparing what you are saying to what the article here says.
It quotes the deputy district attorney saying that Hicks “led deputies on a chase,” and that he ran “five red lights” and “spun out at one point.” If he was just recklessly tearing along on his own after being “observed by an unmarked car” and leaving “the closest unit at least half a mile behind” where was the DDA getting his information?
What is the basis for your conclusion that “he would have murdered Madison regardless”? If he was observed “driving recklessly” by an unmarked unit, was he already running red lights? Was he already losing control and “spinning out”? It certainly seems likely that no matter how “tripping” he was the lights and sirens play spooking him would account for upping his recklessness.
Now, in the ideal world where every citizen politely pulls over at the first flash and wail the idea that someone spooked and rabbited might be a big surprise, but we don’t live in an ideal world. The question is, how to police the REAL world. The cops spooked this guy and someone died. It doesn’t make him innocent, or reduce his responsibility in the matter, but questions about how cops handle these situations are certainly appropriate.
aManOfTruth says
He told the cops he was high on PCP, which makes sense. Smoke a little too much pot and you might lay on the couch playing Call of Duty and go through 3 cans of pringles. Take a little too much PCP and you lose total control of your mind and actions and might run down the street naked with a butcher knife… or ya might do what Marvin Travon Hicks did.
I wonder if the person who sold Marvin the PCP feels any guilt… because in my mind, THAT is the person who is guilty of murder.
Mars says
Makes you think doesn’t it..Maybe Cops were tailing the guy in hopes he would take him to the main dealer and that’s why they didn’t pull him over sooner..or maybe Hicks bought the PCP from the unmarked car.. or maybe this guy felt his invincible high and booked it..Either Way Poor little Madison was killed and Tina injured and the family’s tragedy becomes another story of recklessness..Than you have Cops not even allowing a grieving father touch his little girl to say Good bye…Maybe they were covering up the scene like they seem to always do..Wait I shouldn’t say that because police are always right no matter what they do..
RIP Madison
May your family find peace
Fiona says
They should leavehim there for life maybe that way he won’t go around killing innocent people again.
Tim Scott says
Maybe. Question: do you think people arrested for DUI, first offense, who just happen to be lucky enough that they haven’t killed anyone should be given life sentences as well?
Alexis says
I agree Fiona, when it applies to this man. He was under the influence of PCP and alcohol, and was also arrested for a hit and run accident in 2006.
Ron says
Too bad the cops didn’t shoot him.
Tim Scott says
There are countries where executions in the streets are normal. I’m happy living in one where due process is the norm myself. You could move if you want.
Not-Affiliated-with-LASD-In-Any-Way says
When does Madison get her share of “due process”? Why should the animal who “street executed her” be allowed any more rights that she was robbed of?
You see, to you, it isn’t about due process… Instead, it is about the level of hatred that you have for law enforcement.
And what is even worse is that if you really had a convincing reason for all the hatred you spew on here towards the LASD, then you’d be singing that story on here all day, every day. But you don’t. Instead, you come on here acting like you are everyone’s saviour. Pretending you were there when the constitution was written and signed!
And speaking of “moving”, no one in their right mind would continue to live anywhere near LA County and the LA County Sheriff Dept if they hated them as much as you seem to hate them. And yet here you are, continuing to live in LA county all while dedicating a significant amount of your daily time, to shame and flame the LASD!
Bitterness is toxic… It festers inside you and it grows. It will eat you up from the inside.
How utterly sad must you be to allow yourself to do this long enough and often enough that “bitter” has become your motive and your intent!
Tim Scott says
“Why should the animal who “street executed her” be allowed any more rights that she was robbed of?”
It isn’t the rights of the “animal” that we need to worry about. Without due process there’s no way to be sure the cops are street executing the actually guilty party. Now, YOU may be so deep in the badge licking world that you trust everyone with a badge on their chest to always make the right decisions, but I doubt that many people are.
As to the rest of your bitter little rant about me…I never have said that I hate the LASD, because I don’t. I certainly push for them to be held to account…and that sets me apart from the badge lickers of the world, who seem to be very vocally represented here. But the funny thing is that the cops themselves seem to have no problem with the things I say.
Not that it will make any difference in your bitter and toxic world, but I’ve actually listed my own encounters with the local bad apples more than once here…and if I thought it would make your miserable little life any better I’d do it again. But what you really want is someone to pour out your venom on, and since you make absolutely no difference whatsoever to me that’s a service I can provide.
Tired of Tim's rants says
You nailed it (Not-Affiliated-with-LASD). He never waits for the facts. Automatically calling all LEO’s fascists, and all other commenters badge lickers. Marvin Trayvon Hicks was high on PCP and alcohol (another article), and he has previous offense of hit and run. Tim will always blame law enforcement because of his personal run-ins that he takes no responsibility for. You know, it’s her fault-it’s his fault-it’s their fault-not me. Notice that his own encounters with law enforcement were ALL their fault. It never ends with Tim. He will continue to type his misery every day.