A Hays County jury on Thursday sentenced 73-year-old Rodger Wilder to 25 years in prison after convicting him of aggravated assault against a family member in the December 2024 shooting of his wife in San Marcos. Prosecutors said the attack left the woman with gunshot wounds to her hip and abdomen, and that she survived after receiving hospital care.
According to the Hays County Criminal District Attorney's Office, the sentence was formally announced on March 5, following the jury's guilty verdict. Jurors heard testimony about the December incident itself as well as the couple's history during the punishment phase before settling on the 25-year term.
Local reporting by KEYE/CBS Austin recounted prosecutors' version of events: during a verbal argument in December 2024, Wilder strangled his wife, then shot her four times at close range with a .40-caliber handgun. Authorities said the couple's son heard the shots, ran downstairs, found his mother wounded and quickly arranged for emergency care.
Assistant District Attorneys Shea Umphrey and Ashley Indelicato prosecuted the case. Umphrey said in the Hays County statement that "the victim and her son showed extreme bravery and strength through their testimony," and praised the son's rapid response in getting his mother help.
During the punishment phase, jurors heard that the woman had endured years of emotional, verbal and physical abuse. With that context in mind, they set Wilder's sentence at 25 years in prison. The San Antonio Express-News also reported on the sentence and details from the trial.
Legal Note: What Aggravated Assault Can Mean In Texas
Under Texas law, aggravated assault is charged when an assault causes serious bodily injury or involves the use of a deadly weapon. It is typically a second-degree felony, though it can be enhanced to a first-degree felony in certain circumstances. The statute and its usual sentencing ranges are outlined in the Texas Penal Code.
Prosecutors said this case reflects their office's effort to hold offenders accountable and support survivors of domestic violence, a point emphasized in local coverage. The Hays County release noted that the District Attorney's Office thanked the Hays County Sheriff's Office and EMS for their response to the shooting.
