Whoa! Deputy Charged with Soliciting Teen, Attempts Suicide

A Polk County deputy, now resigned, has been charged with exposing himself to a minor and using his computer to solicit a 17-year-old female, among other charges.

40-year-old former Deputy Mark Hicks was taken into custody on Friday, after he confessed to kissing and fondling the teen and sending lewd photos of himself to her.

Detectives learned that the victim had visited Hicks at his residence at or about August 7th. The teen told investigators that while visiting Hicks, he kissed and fondled her over her clothes, without her consent.  The girl said, she separated herself from him and left the residence.

Hicks, later that day or the next, used his cell phone to send the girl lewd messages which included images of his torso and his private parts.  In turn, Hicks told the teen to send him “a pic of herself,” which she understood to mean images of a sexual nature.

Hicks was brought to the Bartow Police Department, where he admitted to kissing and hugging the victim and sending her lewd images.

While in a holding cell, Hicks attempted to hang himself, police said.  While alone for 10 minutes, Hicks quickly took the waistband from his boxer shorts, fashioned a noose and tied it to the cell door. Hicks was found shortly after and life saving measures were immediately began.  He was administered CPR.

Hicks was later transported to Bartow Regional Medical Center where he was medically cleared, then brought to the Polk County Jail where he is currently being held in the Crisis Stabilization Unit.

Hicks has been charged with using his computer to solicit a minor to commit lewd acts, exposing a minor to harmful material, tampering with evidence and battery.

At the time of the alleged incident, Hicks’ assignment was as a patrol deputy in the Central District.

Hicks was arrested in 2004 for a misdemeanor contempt of court, violation of injunction charge resulting from a child custody dispute. This arrest was later no-billed and Hicks was awarded custody of his biological children in December 2005, investigators said.