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Markus Hicks appealing ‘unreasonable’ sentence of 18.5 years for
sexual assault, child luring

   Alex Kennedy
   | CBC News | Posted: June 11, 2026 2:19 PM | Last Updated: June
   11

   Defence says judge didn't properly consider mitigating factors
   in sentencing

   Image | Markus Hicks

   Caption: Markus Hicks was sentenced to 18-and-a-half years in
   prison earlier this year in St. John's. (Mark Quinn/CBC)
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   Markus Hicks, a former St. John's teacher and volleyball coach
   sentenced to 18-and-a-half years for numerous instances of
   sexual assault and child luring, has filed an appeal.
   According to court documents, the appeal calls Hicks' sentence
   "clearly unreasonable and demonstrably unfit" and argues
   Provincial Court Chief Judge Robin Fowler wrongly limited the
   value of Hicks identifying a person related to another sexual
   assault in a guilty plea.
   Hicks was convicted on 53 of the 54 charges placed against him
   — including 13 counts of sexual assault, six counts of luring a
   child, using a disguise, possessing and accessing child
   pornography, sexual exploitation and breach of trust.
     * Markus Hicks sentenced to 18½ years for sexual assault,
       child luring

     * Court document details how former teacher Markus Hicks
       preyed on young men

   Hicks used several Snapchat profiles to lure youths to his
   Paradise home, and was found with over 34,000 photos and 11,000
   videos showing potential sexual abuse.
   Many of the victims who came forward were students or people
   who trusted Hicks in his role as a teacher, the court heard
   over his trial.
   In his appeal, Hicks and defence lawyers Jason Edwards and
   Ellen O’Gorman said Fowler didn't properly consider mitigating
   factors when sentencing Hicks — and instead put undue emphasis
   on aggravating factors.
   Court documents didn't say when Hicks' appeal would be heard.
   With credit for time served, he has approximately 14.4 years
   left in his sentence.
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