Man Gets Life Sentence for Killing Wife, Shooting Divorce Judge

A man was sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife. The man received the verdict on Friday on charges of killing his spouse and shooting the judge who handled their bitter divorce.

Darren Mack, a 46-year-old former pawn shop owner from Reno, will be eligible for parole after 36 years. In November, he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in death of his wife, Charla, and entered an Alford plea to a charge of attempted murder of Washoe Family Court Judge Chuck Weller. The incident took place in June 2006 after the couple got a divorce with which Mack wasn’t exactly content.

The judge has recovered from his wounds.

The 46-year-old acknowledged in court that he shot Weller through a courthouse window the day he killed his wife but invoked the Alford plea.

In the Alford plea, the defendant admits there is enough evidence for a conviction without admitting guilt.

District Judge Douglas Herndon sentenced Mack to life in jail leaving him the possibility of parole after 20 years on the murder charge. He refused to follow the recommendation of Special Prosecutor Christopher Lalli according to which Mack would have received a sentence of 40 years with parole possible after 16 years for attempted murder with a deadly weapon.

“The truth is Mr. Mack is guilty of these crimes, but he doesn’t want to hear anything about that,” the judge said.

Mack tried to defend himself in court by asserting that he actually acted in self defense when he slashed his wife’s throat in the garage of his southeast Reno townhouse.

When handing the sentence, the judge mentioned the heinous nature of the crimes and Mack’s lack of remorse.