LA County Sheriff's Deputy Convicted Of Domestic Battery On Girlfriend

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was convicted Tuesday of terrorizing a former girlfriend in Anaheim after she had approached him on Christmas Day about his alleged infidelity.

Mark Eric Hibner, 44, of Anaheim faces up to seven years and four months in prison after being convicted of two counts of domestic battery with corporal injury with three counts of making criminal threats -- all felonies.

Hibner's sentence is scheduled for Nov. 15.

The defense attorney, Thomas Szakall, revealed that his client had been suspended as of Tuesday, but declined any further comment.

Hibner, a 22-year veteran of the force, was relieved of duty without pay, pending the case's outcome.

The victim, who had reportedly been in the relationship with Hibner for several years, approached the suspect when after hearing a "sexually suggestive" voicemail on his cell hone from another woman. Hibner had reportedly been formerly involved with the woman, with whom he had a child, according to Orange County prosecutors.

After the victim approached Hibner about the voicemail, he allegedly punched her in the chest, grabbed her by the hair, spit at her and flicked a lit cigarette at her. During another fight, on Dec. 29, Hibner allegedly grabbed the woman by the hair, pinned her on a bed and covered her mouth.

Hibner then reportedly woke her the following morning, dragged her into the living room by her hair, threw her on the floor, straddled her and choked her with his forearm across her throat, according to the prosecution.

Another event suggests Hibner covered the victim's mouth and nose to cut off her air supply as he made threats to cause her to pass out as she banged on the floor in an attempt to get the neighbors' attention.

On Feb. 19, he also reportedly threatened to kill the woman who had left him the voicemail on Christmas Day if she appeared at a court hearing regarding a protective order sought by the victim.

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