Tears fell Friday as the verdict was read in one of Kings County's largest murder trials. The anguish was not present on the face of Dave Hawk, the 51-year-old Lemoore man found guilty of killing his ex-wife in Kings Couty Superior Court. He stared straight ahead, his face an indecipherable mask.

Nor was the pain felt by the group, Friends of Debbie Hawk, who smiled and shook each other's hands, their purple shirts a reminder of the missing woman.

Several people in the audience pumped their fists in a ceremonial gesture of victory. A few were congratulated with pats on the back.

And, just a few feet away, Chelsa Hawk began to sob.

For 17-year-old Chelsa, now a senior in high school, this day will mark the beginning of a 60-day countdown until her father is sent away for life in state prison without the possibility of parole.

"It's a bittersweet victory," Police Chief Carlos Mestas said. "Those three kids lost a mother and now their father is going away to prison. There is a lot of collateral damage in this case. Nobody is leaving a winner."

Chelsa's brother and sister, Conrad, 19, and Savannah, 13, were not present in the courtroom Friday.

Hawk was found guilty of first-degree murder, five counts of tax evasion between 2001 and 2005, three counts of embezzlement, and grand theft and a single charge of perjury.

The verdict was handed down in a courtroom packed full of people, leaving standing-room only for spectators lining the back walls.

As people began to exit the courtroom, a small army of television news crews followed in their wake. Jurors, spectators and attorneys were accosted by reporters and cameramen on the path to the parking lot.

Chelsa and Hawk's father, Stanley Hawk, disappeared in the commotion, but defense attorney Mark Coleman said the family was devastated by the news.

"We're tremendously disappointed by this decision, but it just proves our point that Dave can't get a fair trial in Kings County," Coleman said.

He announced his intent to file a motion for a new trial, saying that the widespread media coverage biased the case against his client.

"I believe that he is innocent," Coleman said. "And it's difficult to believe that a man who may be innocent is going to spend the rest of his life in jail over this."

The jury's decision came after 11 days of court testimony and two days of deliberation.

Prosecutors maintain that Hawk stole more than $300,000 from his children's trust fund accounts over a period of several years.

Then, on an early summer night in 2006, the three Hawk children arrived home to find blood trails leading from their mother's bedroom out into the garage.

Debbie Hawk's body was never recovered. Prosecutors maintained this was by design, to keep Debbie listed as a missing person so the crime could never be linked to Hawk.

Prosecutor Larry Crouch said he was gratified by the jury's decision to convict the Lemoore man.

"It's important that Debbie finally got her hearing," Crouch said. "And now we can get all of our lives back."

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Aug. 29, 2009)