Prosecutor’s Son Sentenced for Robberies

A prosecutor’s son was sentenced Monday to 11 years in federal prison for robbing two banks and having a previous conviction for bank robbery.

The consecutive sentences were handed down to John Mark Hewicker III, 25, of La Jolla, whose father, John Hewicker II, is an extradition specialist with the district attorney’s office.

Hewicker’s late grandfather, John Hewicker, was a San Diego Superior Court judge known for his stern sentencing of criminals.

U. S. District Judge J. Lawrence Irving sentenced Hewicker to six years in prison for bank robberies in December, then imposed five years--consecutively--for his 1985 conviction for bank robbery.

Hewicker told the judge Monday that he robbed banks in his 1985 case because of “a nasty cocaine habit.” He was sentenced then to four years in prison, and it was later reduced to three years.

But Hewicker said the latest robberies were not about drugs.

Wiping away tears, he said: “I don’t know all the reasons.” Hewicker added that he committed the holdups as “my way of hurting myself.”

His attorney, Ramon Castro, urged a single term of six years and asked the judge not to impose the extra five years because of his violating conditions on probation from the 1985 case.

“We know he is not dangerous. He has a great deal of frustration and insecurity,” Castro said. “He really didn’t need the money.”

The defense attorney said Hewicker’s parents are frustrated by their son’s behavior and have asked themselves: “Where did we go wrong?”

Hewicker’s father was not in court for the sentencing.

Castro said the banks have been repaid for the amount stolen. Hewicker was armed with an air pistol at the time of the holdups.

Assistant U.S. Atty. James Brannigan Jr. said the tellers at the bank thought the gun was real. He urged the 11-year term.

Irving also fined the man $2,000. He said he may modify the sentence later, depending on his progress in prison.

The grand jury indictment, handed up Jan. 4, charged that Hewicker robbed Home Federal Savings & Loan in La Jolla of $807 on Dec. 2; Flagship Federal Savings Bank on Governor Drive, of $256 on Dec. 16, and City National Bank in La Jolla, of $1,660 on Dec. 21.

Hewicker pleaded guilty to two bank robberies, which could have netted him 70 years in prison, counting extra years for violating his probation.