JOSEPH PHIPPS SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS FOR MURDER OF HIS WIFE

The Joshua Tree man convicted of shooting and killing his wife during an argument more than a year and a half ago was sentenced Friday to 40 years to life. Joseph Phipps, 42, was convicted in July of shooting Christy Utley in the head January 30, 2013, in their bedroom of their home in the 61600 block of Alta Vista Drive. Phipps, who testified at his trial, claimed that the shooting was accidental during a struggle and that his wife was holding the gun when it went off. Judge Rodney Cortez denied the defense’s request for probation, and sentenced Joseph Phipps to 15 years to life for the second degree murder charge and 25 years to life for discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury or death. Phipps was also ordered to pay a $10,000 restitution fine, which was stayed pending successful completion of parole. Joseph Phipps is not eligible for parole for 40 years. He has 60 days to appeal his sentence.