FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED IN 1989 FOR MURDER OF MARC UHER HAS MODIFICATION DENIED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2022
FREDERICK MAN SENTENCED IN 1989 FOR MURDER OF MARC UHER
HAS MODIFICATION DENIED
FREDERICK, MD – This morning in Frederick County Circuit Court, John Paul Sexton had his request to modify his sentence denied by Judge Julie Solt. Sexton is currently serving a sentence of life plus forty years in prison for the October 1988 murder of his classmate 16-year-old Marc Uher. Over the Governor’s veto, the Maryland Legislature passed the Juvenile Restoration Act which allows all those who have served at least twenty years of their sentence to seek modifications if they were under 18 years of age at the time of the offense.
In October 1988, Sexton used his friendship with the victim to learn how the money from the Urbana Exxon was secured every night at the close of business. The victim, Marc Uher, had just started working at the Exxon and told his friend Sexton that when the business closed up, the employee would drive the bank bag with all the cash to the owner’s house a short distance away. On the date of the murder, Sexton came to the Exxon and hung out with Uher while Uher worked. Sexton asked for a ride at the end of the night. The investigation, the autopsy, and ballistic evidence proved that the gun was placed within two to three inches of Uher’s head and he was executed. Sexton told police his hand was bumped as he was exiting the car and the shooting was an accident. The evidence however proved that was not possibly the scenario. After killing Uher, Sexton took Uher’s car, dumped Uher’s body and then over the next three days pretended to help look for the missing 16-year-old until he was arrested.
Many friends and Linganore classmates gathered today at the courthouse. They reminisced about the good times they had with their friend, and how devastated they still are by the crime that shattered the community. Numerous victim impact statements from the Linganore Community were shared with the Court by the State’s Attorney’s office. Uher’s brother was able to participate in the hearing and shared his requests and feelings with the court as well. Knowing what effect this this kind of modification hearing has on the victims of violent crimes is a primary reason the Juvenile Restoration Act was opposed by the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Association.
State’s Attorney Charlie Smith commented, “Many people believe that these sentence reduction motions under the Juvenile Restoration Act should be automatic. However, there are some homicides committed by juveniles that are so senseless and heinous that life sentences are very appropriate. Sexton is one of those cases. Juvenile Chief ASA Laura Wilt put it best, it was a carefully planned murder to merely ensure there was no witness to his robbery. That’s cold-blooded.”
The State was represented by Chief Assistant State’s Attorney Laura Wilt.
