Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_97-cv-00580/USCOURTS-azd-2_97-cv-00580-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 535
Nature of Suit: Habeas Corpus - Death Penalty
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Ptn for Writ of H/C - Stay of Execution

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 1 “Dkt.” refers to the documents in this Court’s file. “ROA” refers to the state

court record on appeal (CR-90-0283-AP and CR-92-0109-PC). “ME” refers to the minute

entries of the state court. “RT” refers to the court reporter’s transcript.

WO

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Eldon M. Schurz, 

Petitioner, 

vs.

Dora Schriro, et al., 

Respondents. 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No. CV-97-580-PHX-EHC

DEATH PENALTY CASE

MEMORANDUM OF DECISION 

AND ORDER

Pending before the Court is Petitioner’s Second Amended Petition, which raised

twenty-seven claims for habeas relief. (Dkt. 134.)1

 In previous procedural and substantive

orders, this Court denied relief on all but the claims which are the subject of this Order. (Dkt.

29, 39, 128, 133.) For these remaining claims, the Court concludes that Petitioner is not

entitled to habeas relief.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

On the night of December 1, 1989, Marcella Bonito, Ronald Yazzie,

Larry Figueroa, and an unidentified white male, were drinking beer in a

stairwell at the back of a Phoenix motel. Defendant Eldon Schurz, Patrick

Allison and Julie Moore came by and asked for some beer. After they were

refused, Schurz grabbed the beer. Bonito tried to get it back, but gave up after

Schurz threatened her. Schurz and his companions left and drank the beer,

after which Schurz stated that the group at the motel must have more beer or

money and suggested that they go back and take it.

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 1 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 2 -

Meanwhile, Jonathan Bahe, the victim, approached the first group.

Having run out of gas, he was carrying a plastic jug of gasoline to his car.

Bonito told him about the earlier robbery of their beer and complained that no

one had done anything to prevent it. Bahe stated that, had he been there, he

would have done something about it. Schurz, Allison and Moore returned.

Schurz apparently overheard Bahe’s statement and argued with him. When

Schurz began pushing and punching Bahe, Bonito and Figueroa ran up the

stairs to wake someone to call the police. Yazzie and the white male left.

Schurz, Bahe, and Allison remained. Moore was some distance away.

Bahe was on the ground and, in an attempt to get away, crawled under a chainlink fence into a small enclosed rectangular space between a stairwell and a

brick wall. Schurz picked up the plastic jug, smelled its contents, and then

splashed gasoline on Bahe. Using a lighter, Schurz ignited a small puddle of

gasoline. When the flames failed to spread to Bahe, he kicked the burning

puddle toward him. Bahe went up in flames. After Schurz and Allison fled,

Bahe managed to crawl under the fence and out of the enclosed space. Police

and fire fighters arrived and extinguished the fire. Schurz later said to Moore,

“He wouldn’t give me the money or the beer, so I burned him.”

Bahe was conscious on the way to the hospital. He was severely burned

over 90 to 100 percent of his body and was moaning and shaking in pain.

Much of his body was completely charred. He was unrecognizable. Even his

race was unclear. The burning had caused the long muscles in his limbs to

shorten so that his arms and legs were rigidly flexed and could not be

straightened. He was given morphine to control the pain, but there was little

else that could be done.

Bahe lived for approximately four and a half hours and, remarkably,

was conscious enough to respond to questions from the police. Because of the

extremely damaged state of his mouth and tongue-which were charred-his

answers were nearly impossible to understand.

Approximately half an hour after the burning, Schurz and his

companions were picked up by an unidentified man who wanted to buy some

cocaine. Schurz claimed to know where to get some, and after exacting money

from the man, directed him to a housing project where Schurz got out of the

car briefly but returned without any cocaine. Schurz then said that he was

robbing the man and held a lighter flame to his neck. The driver put up no

resistance and Schurz, Allison, and Moore fled.

Schurz and Allison were arrested a few hours later. Both were charged

with first degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery, but Allison pled

guilty to the latter charge in return for testifying against Schurz.

State v. Schurz, 176 Ariz. 46, 50, 859 P.2d 156, 160 (1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1026

(1993).

Petitioner was found guilty of first degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery.

(ROA 109-10.) The jury unanimously found him guilty of first degree murder on both a

premeditation and a felony murder theory. (Id., 110.) Following a presentence hearing, the

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 2 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 3 -

trial court found the existence of one statutory aggravating circumstance, that the murder was

committed in an especially cruel, heinous, or depraved manner. (ROA 137 at 3-5.) The trial

court further concluded that the mitigating circumstances were not sufficiently substantial

to call for leniency and sentenced Petitioner to death for the murder conviction. (Id. at 8.)

While Petitioner’s direct appeal was pending, he filed his first petition for postconviction relief (“PCR”) pursuant to Rule 32 of the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure,

raising claims of ineffective assistance of counsel (“IAC”) at both trial and sentencing.

(ROA 154.) The PCR court considered the merits of each IAC claim but ultimately denied

relief. (ROA 165.) Petitioner petitioned the Arizona Supreme Court for review. (ROA 170.)

The supreme court consolidated the PCR petition with the automatic direct appeal. The court

then affirmed Petitioner’s convictions and sentences and denied post-conviction relief. State

v. Schurz, 176 Ariz. 46, 859 P.2d 156, cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1026 (1993).

Following the direct appeal and PCR proceedings, the Arizona Supreme Court filed

a second notice of post-conviction relief and appointed counsel on Petitioner’s behalf. (ROA

171.) Petitioner was provided with a mitigation investigator and granted more than twelve

months to file a PCR petition. (ROA 182, 188, 189 (Affidavit of Mary Durand, ¶ 1).)

Petitioner’s second PCR petition raised additional IAC claims, as well as other claims.

(ROA 189.) The PCR court took approximately nineteen months to resolve the second PCR

petition and denied relief. (ROA 200.) The Arizona Supreme Court denied a subsequent

petition for review.

Following the denial of his second PCR petition, Petitioner initiated habeas corpus

proceedings, filing an Amended Petition raising fourteen claims. (Dkt. 14.) After review of

the Amended Petition, this Court concluded that certain claims were procedurally barred and

scheduled merits briefing on the remaining properly-exhausted claims. (Dkt. 29.) With

respect to his claim of ineffective assistance of sentencing counsel, Petitioner filed his first

motion for an evidentiary hearing and a request to expand the state court record. (Dkt. 76.)

Petitioner sought to expand the record with additional evidence that sentencing counsel

should have discovered and presented in mitigation. (Id.) The Court denied Petitioner’s

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 3 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

2 Concurrently, Petitioner moved to amend his habeas petition and lodged a

second amended petition. (Dkt. 104.) This motion was denied on procedural grounds

without prejudice to refiling. (Dkt. 117.)

- 4 -

motion without prejudice to refiling to allow him to explain how his failure to present the

additional mitigation evidence in state court was not the result of lack of diligence. (Dkt. 82

at 12.) 

Subsequently, the United States Supreme Court decided Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584

(2002), which found Arizona’s death penalty sentencing scheme unconstitutional because

judges, rather than juries, determined the factual existence of the statutory aggravating

circumstances that rendered a defendant eligible for the death penalty. In response, Petitioner

moved this Court for a stay of his habeas proceedings so that he could return to state court

and pursue a successive PCR petition based on Ring. (Dkt. 83.) This Court stayed

Petitioner’s sentencing-related claims and authorized him to return to state court to

commence proceedings based on Ring. (Dkt. 86.) 

Petitioner initiated successive state PCR proceedings, but did not limit his third PCR

petition to the filing of a Ring claim. Instead, he presented all of the claims this Court had

previously found procedurally barred as well as other claims never before raised in collateral

proceedings. (Dkt. 116 at 24.) The PCR court summarily dismissed the successive third

PCR petition and Petitioner filed a petition for review to the Arizona Supreme Court. (Id.

at 220, 262.) The United States Supreme Court then issued its ruling in Schriro v.

Summerlin, 542 U.S. 348 (2004), holding that Ring does not apply retroactively. Thereafter,

the Arizona Supreme Court denied Petitioner’s petition for review. (Dkt. 116 at 300.)

Following Summerlin, this Court lifted its stay of Petitioner’s sentencing claims.2

(Dkt. 102.) Petitioner then filed his second request for an evidentiary hearing and expansion

of the record, seeking expansion with respect to Claims 9(A)-(E) (IAC at trial) and Claims

10(A)-(B) (IAC at sentencing). (Dkt. 109.) Petitioner again requested that the record be

expanded to include additional mitigation that should have been discovered and presented

at sentencing. (Id.) Petitioner also requested a federal evidentiary hearing to present

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 4 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

3 Following submission of the Amended Petition and further procedural briefing,

the Court construed those pleadings to include two additional sentencing IAC claims, which

it denominated as Claims 10(A) and 10(B). These claims contended that sentencing

counsel’s investigation and presentation of mitigation was ineffective. (See Dkt. 29 at 39.)

Claims 10(A) and 10(B) were found exhausted and were briefed on the merits. (See Dkts.

76, 79, and 80.) When Petitioner lodged his Second Amended Petition, he reformulated

exhausted Claims 10(A) and 10(B) and filed them together as Claim 11(A). (See Dkt. 134

at 80-87.)

Due to the addition of Claims 10(A) and 10(B), Petitioner’s Claim 10(A) was redenominated as Claim 10(C), Claim 10(B) was re-denominated as 10(D), and 10(C) was redenominated as 10(E). Claims 10(C)-(E) were found procedurally barred. (See Dkt. 29 at

39-41.) 

- 5 -

testimony from trial counsel, a mitigation specialist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, an

addiction specialist, and a cultural expert. (Id. at 3, 21-23.) Petitioner argued that he was

entitled to a federal evidentiary hearing because he had diligently sought to develop the

factual basis of his IAC claims during the litigation of his first and second PCR petitions, but

was curtailed by the state courts. (Id. at 21-23.) 

Following an extensive review of the state court record (see Dkt. 128 at 6-7, 9-15),

the Court denied Petitioner’s second request for evidentiary development, concluding that

he had been given ample opportunity by the state court but had failed to diligently develop

the factual basis of Claims 9(A)-(E), 10(A), and 10(B). (Id. at 7-8, 15-18.) Based on this

failure, the Court concluded that Petitioner was not entitled to an evidentiary hearing or an

expanded state court record pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(2). (Id. at 19.)

While litigating his second motion for evidentiary development, Petitioner renewed

his motion to amend his habeas petition, seeking to re-amend claims previously found

procedurally barred and to add new claims never before presented to this Court.3

 (Dkt. 102,

120.) The Court authorized the filing of a Second Amended Petition, which re-amended and

added certain claims; the Court also dismissed Claims 1-3, 5, 6, 8, 10(A), 10(B), 11(B),

11(D) and 12-27 with prejudice and scheduled supplemental merits briefing on newlyamended Claims 9(F)-(I), 10(C), 11(A) and 11(C). (See Dkt. 133.) In this supplemental

brief, Petitioner submitted his third request for discovery, expansion of the record, and an

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 5 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 6 -

evidentiary hearing. (Dkt. 140.) 

LEGAL STANDARD FOR FEDERAL HABEAS RELIEF

Petitioner initiated this case after the effective date of the Antiterrorism and Effective

Death Penalty Act (“AEDPA”). Therefore, the provisions of the AEDPA govern

consideration of Petitioner’s claims. For properly preserved claims “adjudicated on the

merits” by a state court, the AEDPA established a more rigorous standard for habeas relief.

See Miller-El v. Cockrell, 537 U.S. 322, 337 (2003) (Miller-El I). As the Supreme Court has

explained, the AEDPA’s “‘highly deferential standard for evaluating state-court rulings’ . .

. demands that state-court decisions be given the benefit of the doubt.” Woodford v. Visciotti,

537 U.S. 19, 24 (2002) (per curiam) (quoting Lindh v. Murphy, 521 U.S. 320, 333 n.7 (1997).

The phrase “adjudicated on the merits” refers to a decision resolving a party’s claim

which is based on the substance of the claim rather than on a procedural or other nonsubstantive ground. Lambert v. Blodgett, 393 F.3d 943, 969 (9th Cir. 2004). The relevant

state court decision is the last reasoned state decision regarding a claim. Barker v. Fleming,

423 F.3d 1085, 1091 (9th Cir. 2005) (citing Ylst v. Nunnemaker, 501 U.S. 797, 803-804

(1991)); Insyxiengmay v. Morgan, 403 F.3d 657, 664 (9th Cir. 2005). 

Under the AEDPA, a petitioner is not entitled to habeas relief on any claim

adjudicated on the merits by the state court unless that adjudication:

(1) resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable

application of, clearly established Federal law, as determined by the Supreme

Court of the United States; or

(2) resulted in a decision that was based on an unreasonable determination of

the facts in light of the evidence presented in the State court proceeding. 

28 U.S.C. § 2254(d). 

“The threshold question under AEDPA is whether [petitioner] seeks to apply a rule

of law that was clearly established at the time his state-court conviction became final.”

Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 362, 390 (2000). Therefore, to assess a claim under subsection

(d)(1), the Court must first identify the “clearly established Federal law,” if any, that governs

the sufficiency of the claims on habeas review. “Clearly established” federal law consists

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 6 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 7 -

of the holdings of the Supreme Court at the time the petitioner’s state court conviction

became final. Williams, 529 U.S. at 365; see Carey v. Musladin, 127 S. Ct. 649 (2006);

Clark v. Murphy, 331 F.3d 1062, 1069 (9th Cir. 2003). Habeas relief cannot be granted if

the Supreme Court has not “broken sufficient legal ground” on a constitutional principle

advanced by a petitioner, even if lower federal courts have decided the issue. Williams, 529

U.S. at 381; see Casey v. Moore, 386 F.3d 896, 907 (9th Cir. 2004). Nevertheless, while

only Supreme Court authority is binding, circuit court precedent may be “persuasive” in

determining what law is clearly established and whether a state court applied that law

unreasonably. Clark, 331 F.3d at 1069. 

The Supreme Court has provided guidance in applying each prong of § 2254(d)(1).

The Court has explained that a state court decision is “contrary to” the Supreme Court’s

clearly established precedents if the decision applies a rule that contradicts the governing law

set forth in those precedents, thereby reaching a conclusion opposite to that reached by the

Supreme Court on a matter of law, or if it confronts a set of facts that is materially

indistinguishable from a decision of the Supreme Court but reaches a different result.

Williams, 529 U.S. at 405-06; see Early v. Packer, 537 U.S. 3, 8 (2002) (per curiam). In

characterizing the claims subject to analysis under the “contrary to” prong, the Court has

observed that “a run-of-the-mill state-court decision applying the correct legal rule to the

facts of the prisoner’s case would not fit comfortably within § 2254(d)(1)’s ‘contrary to’

clause.” Williams, 529 U.S. at 406; see Lambert v. Blodgett, 393 F.3d 943, 974 (9th Cir.

2004). 

Under the “unreasonable application” prong of § 2254(d)(1), a federal habeas court

may grant relief where a state court “identifies the correct governing legal rule from [the

Supreme] Court’s cases but unreasonably applies it to the facts of the particular . . . case” or

“unreasonably extends a legal principle from [Supreme Court] precedent to a new context

where it should not apply or unreasonably refuses to extend that principle to a new context

where it should apply.” Williams, 529 U.S. at 407. In order for a federal court to find a state

court’s application of Supreme Court precedent “unreasonable” under § 2254(d)(1), the

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 7 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 8 -

petitioner must show that the state court’s decision was not merely incorrect or erroneous,

but “objectively unreasonable.” Id. at 409; Visciotti, 537 U.S. at 25.

Under the standard set forth in § 2254(d)(2), habeas relief is available only if the state

court decision was based upon an unreasonable determination of the facts. Miller-El v.

Dretke, 545 U.S. 231, 240 (2005) (Miller-El II). A state court decision “based on a factual

determination will not be overturned on factual grounds unless objectively unreasonable in

light of the evidence presented in the state-court proceeding.” Miller-El I, 537 U.S. at 340.

In considering a challenge under 2254(d)(2), state court factual determinations are presumed

to be correct, and a petitioner bears the “burden of rebutting this presumption by clear and

convincing evidence.” 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1); Miller-El II, 545 U.S. at 240.

As the Ninth Circuit has noted, application of the foregoing standards presents

difficulties when the state court decided the merits of a claim without providing its rationale.

See Himes v. Thompson, 336 F.3d 848, 853 (9th Cir. 2003); Pirtle v. Morgan, 313 F.3d 1160,

1167 (9th Cir. 2002); Delgado v. Lewis, 223 F.3d 976, 981-82 (9th Cir. 2000). In those

circumstances, a federal court independently reviews the record to assess whether the state

court decision was objectively unreasonable under controlling federal law. Himes, 336 F.3d

at 853; Pirtle, 313 F.3d at 1167. Although the record is reviewed independently, a federal

court nevertheless defers to the state court’s ultimate decision. Pirtle, 313 F.3d at 1167

(citing Delgado, 223 F.3d at 981-82); see also Himes, 336 F.3d at 853. Only when a state

court did not decide the merits of a properly raised claim will the claim be reviewed de novo,

because in that circumstance “there is no state court decision on [the] issue to which to

accord deference.” Pirtle, 313 F.3d at 1167; see also Menendez v. Terhune, 422 F.3d 1012,

1025-26 (9th Cir. 2005); Nulph v. Cook, 333 F.3d 1052, 1056-57 (9th Cir. 2003). 

MERITS ANALYSIS: CLAIMS 4, 7, 9(A), 9(B), 9(C), 9(E)

Claim 4: Failure to Appoint an Expert to Examine Petitioner and Assist in

his Defense Violated Petitioner’s Due Process Right to Meaningful

Psychiatric Assistance Under Ake v. Oklahoma

Petitioner contends he was deprived of his right to meaningful psychiatric assistance

under Ake v. Oklahoma, 470 U.S. 68 (1985), when the trial court failed to order a complete

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 8 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

4 In connection with Claim 4, Petitioner asks this Court to grant him discovery

with respect to his “background” and “the neuropsychological testing that is needed and has

not be [sic] administered.” (Dkt. 62 at 14.) He also requests an opportunity to “amend his

pleadings with this evidence” and an evidentiary hearing “at which prejudice can be shown

through the use of necessary experts denied him at trial.” (Id.) Because the Court finds that

no Ake error occurred, Petitioner’s requests for evidentiary development regarding Claim 4

are denied.

5 At the time of his trial, Arizona’s criminal rules permitted a party to request “an

examination to determine whether a defendant is competent to stand trial, or to investigate

the defendant’s mental condition at the time of the offense.” Ariz. R. Crim. P. 11.2 (1990).

6 Rule 11.3(a) requires the trial court to “appoint at least two mental health

experts, at least one of whom must be a psychiatrist, to examine the defendant and to testify

regarding the defendant’s mental condition,” if the court determines that “reasonable grounds

for [such] an examination exist.” Ariz. R. Crim. P. 11.3(a) (1990).

- 9 -

neurological examination and failed to appoint a psychiatrist to assist with his guilt phase

defense. (Dkt. 14 at 13; Dkt. 41 at 2.)4

Background

During pretrial proceedings, Petitioner moved for a mental examination to determine

his competency to stand trial and to investigate his mental condition at the time of the crime.5

(ROA 35.) In that motion, defense counsel indicated, without any supporting evidence or

explanation, that Petitioner could not recall events during and around the time of the crimes

and may have been suffering from serious mental problems possibly caused and exacerbated

by alcohol and other drug abuse. (Id.) Subsequently, Petitioner filed a second motion

requesting a neurological examination to determine whether he had an organic brain disorder.

(ROA 37.) Like the Rule 11 request, this motion was based on defense counsel’s “belief that

[Petitioner] suffered from severe alcoholism, with memory loss and possible other symptoms

of organic brain damage.” (Dkt. 41 at 2.) That same day, Petitioner filed a notice listing

possible defenses, one of which was insanity. (ROA 38.)

Pursuant to Rule 11.2(c) of the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure, the trial court

ordered a pre-screening report to assist it in determining whether “reasonable grounds”

existed to warrant a full-scale examination of Petitioner’s mental health under Rule 11.3(a).6

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 9 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

7 Although Dr. Potts was an employee of Maricopa County Department of

Health Services, he was not affiliated with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, and his

office “is often consulted for unbiased evaluations.” State v. Herrera, 176 Ariz. 21, 31, 859

P.2d 131, 141 (1993).

8 Under Rule 11.1, a person is incompetent is he or she is “unable to understand

the proceedings against him or her or to assist in his or her own defense”“as a result of a

mental illness, defect or disability.” Ariz. R. Crim. P. 11.1 (1990). A mental illness, defect

or disability “means a psychiatric or neurological disorder that is evidenced by behavioral

or emotional symptoms, including congenital mental conditions, conditions resulting from

injury or disease and developmental disabilities.” Id.

- 10 -

(ME 43.) Pursuant to this order, Dr. Jack Potts conducted an examination of Petitioner.

(Opening Br., Attach. A, hereinafter “Potts Rept.”)7

 In a report filed with the court, Dr. Potts

recommended that the court not grant Petitioner’s motion for a more extensive evaluation

pursuant to Rule 11 because there were no grounds to question his “present competency.”8

(Potts Rept. at 2.)

Dr. Potts described Petitioner as “alert and oriented to his name, the date, our location,

and his reason for seeing me.” (Id. at 1.) During the examination, Petitioner’s “thought

processes were goal-directed and intact,” “he appeared to be exercising relatively good

judgment,” and “did not appear to be suffering from any perceptual disturbances such as

auditory or visual hallucinations.” (Id.) Petitioner denied “any previous history of

psychiatric hospitalizations except for a period for drug rehabilitation,” as well as “any

family history for psychiatric problems.” (Id.) Dr. Potts described Petitioner’s cognitive

abilities as “consistent with having received his G.E.D.,” and noted that he had good “insight

into his problems specifically with alcohol and drug abuse.” (Id.) 

Dr. Potts paid specific attention to Petitioner’s memory at the time surrounding the

alleged offense. He stated that Petitioner’s “memory appeared to be grossly intact for both

recent and remote events except for circumscribed periods of time usually surrounding

substance abuse,” including “the time surrounding the alleged offense, according to

[Petitioner].” (Id. at 1-2.) Dr. Potts concluded that alcohol and heroin abuse “could have

contributed to [Petitioner] having a ‘blackout’ for a specific time,” because “individuals who

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 10 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 11 -

abuse alcohol over a period of months or years can have amnesiac episodes.” (Id. at 2.) Dr.

Potts dismissed Petitioner’s alleged “memory deficits” as it impacted his final conclusion

regarding Petitioner’s competency because they “existed prior to the alleged offense and are

consistent with ‘blackouts’ that occur during gross alcohol abuse.” (Id.) Thus, he described

the memory lapses as “more of a legal issue than a psychiatric issue.” (Id.)

Dr. Potts also noted a question as to whether Petitioner was “possibly suffering from

an undiagnosed seizure disorder manifested by olfactory hallucinations.” (Id.) Dr. Potts

based this conclusion on Petitioner’s self-report of a head trauma he purportedly suffered six

or seven months before his arrest and “some problems since that time.” (Id.) As with the

memory lapses, however, Dr. Potts noted that the issue of Petitioner’s “recent past head

trauma also has nothing to do with his present competency but may have some value to be

pursued by the defense attorney.” (Id.) 

On the basis of Dr. Potts’s report and the information presented in Petitioner’s

motions, the trial court denied Petitioner’s requests for psychiatric assistance. (ME 45.) The

court concluded that insanity was not an issue in the case, notwithstanding the notice that it

was a possible defense. (Id.) After reviewing the entire court record, including Dr. Potts’s

report, the Arizona Supreme Court found the trial court’s decision was not an abuse of

discretion because “[t]here is nothing in [Dr. Potts’s] report to indicate that there was any real

question regarding [Petitioner’s] sanity at the time of the offenses.” Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 54,

859 P.2d at 164. The supreme court noted that Petitioner’s possible blackouts due to drug

and alcohol use could not be the basis for an insanity defense under Arizona law. (Id.) At

the time of the crime, Arizona’s insanity defense required proof that Petitioner suffered from

a mental disease or defect which rendered him incapable of knowing either the nature and

quality of the act committed or that such an act was wrong. A.R.S. § 13-502(A)(B) (1984).

Clearly Established Federal Law

At the time of Petitioner’s conviction and sentence, Ake v. Oklahoma was clearly

established law. Under Ake, 

when a defendant demonstrates to the trial judge that his sanity at the time of

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 11 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

9 Consequently, Claim 9(D), alleging ineffective assistance of counsel at trial

predicated on counsel’s failure to pursue a mental condition defense, is also meritless. 

- 12 -

the offense is to be a significant factor at trial, the State must, at a minimum,

assure the defendant access to a competent psychiatrist who will conduct an

appropriate examination and assist in evaluation, preparation, and presentation

of the defense. 

470 U.S. at 83. However, as the Ninth Circuit observed in Gretzler v. Stewart, 112 F.3d 992,

1001 (9th Cir. 1997), “Ake makes clear that psychiatric assistance is a contingent, not an

absolute, right: it holds that when a defendant has made a preliminary showing that his

sanity at the time of the offense is likely to be a significant factor at trial the state must

provide psychiatric assistance.” Id. (citing Williams v. Calderon, 52 F.3d 1465, 1473 (9th

Cir. 1995) (citation and internal quotation omitted). 

In its discussion of Claim 4 on direct appeal, the Arizona Supreme Court identified

and discussed Ake as controlling precedent. Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 53-54, 859 P.2d at 163-64.

As noted above, under the “unreasonable application” prong of § 2254(d)(1), this Court must

determine whether the state supreme court’s application of Ake was not merely erroneous,

but “objectively unreasonable.” Williams, 529 U.S. at 409. 

Discussion

As previously summarized, based on Dr. Potts’s pre-screening report, the Arizona

Supreme Court concluded that Petitioner was sane at the time of the offense and competent

to stand trial. Because the report did not call into question Petitioner’s sanity at the time of

the offense, the supreme court concluded that Ake had not been violated. Schurz, 176 Ariz.

at 53-54, 859 P.2d at 163-64.

The supreme court’s treatment of this claim is not unreasonable. Petitioner did not

meet the threshold standard required by Ake for the appointment of a mental health expert

because he failed to demonstrate that his sanity or mental capacity at the time of the crime

was likely to be a significant factor in his guilt phase defense.9

 Dr. Potts’s report does not

suggest that Petitioner’s sanity at the time of the offenses would likely be a significant factor

at trial. Rather, Dr. Potts found Petitioner competent to stand trial and able to assist in his

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 12 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

10 Legally, Petitioner’s alleged blackouts due to his drug and alcohol abuse

could not be the basis of an insanity defense. See State v. Walton, 159 Ariz. 571, 577, 769

P.2d 1017, 1023 (1989) (trial court’s denial of motion for mental examination after defendant

presented evidence of childhood history of psychiatric referrals and blackouts caused by

substance abuse not an abuse of discretion).

- 13 -

defense. Dr. Potts was made aware of Petitioner’s alleged memory lapses and recent head

trauma, but he did not recognize either as a condition bearing on Petitioner’s mental state in

relation to his competency or suggestive of emotional or mental disturbance indicating that

Petitioner’s sanity at the time of the offense was likely to be a significant factor in his

defense.10 Thus, although these conditions may have constituted legitimate mitigating

evidence at sentencing, they did not indicate that Petitioner was incompetent at the time of

the crime, and thus provided no defense during the guilt phase of trial. 

Moreover, Petitioner presented no allegations that, at the time of the crime, a mental

disease or defect rendered him incapable of either knowing the nature and quality of the act

or that it was wrong, and he presented no facts to support his general allegations of mental

problems, including organic brain damage. In his pretrial motion for an examination by an

impartial medical expert, Petitioner’s counsel merely alleged that “defendant is unable to

recall events during and around the time of his alleged commission of this crime,” and “it

appears that he may have serious mental problems caused by severe alcoholism or other

factors.” (ROA 35 at 1-2.) Similarly, in his pretrial motion for a neurological examination,

Petitioner’s counsel generally alleged a “belief” that Petitioner “suffers from severe

alcoholism, with memory loss and possible other symptoms of organic brain damage.”

(ROA 37 at 1.) Other than his allegation that Petitioner was insane due to intoxication or

organic brain damage, Petitioner cited no evidence that at the time of the commission of the

crimes, his behavior was erratic or that a mental disease or defect rendered him unable to

know the nature and quality of the act or that it was wrong. Petitioner’s bare assertions that

he may have had mental problems stemming from severe alcohol abuse or organic brain

damage were plainly insufficient to meet the threshold showing required by Ake. Likewise,

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 13 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

11 At trial, Petitioner’s defense was that his co-defendant Patrick Allison

murdered the victim.

- 14 -

even assuming Petitioner had alleged that he was insane at the time of the crimes, which he

clearly did not, he failed to make a factual showing that his sanity at the time of the crimes

was truly at issue. Because Petitioner failed to make allegations or a factual showing

sufficient to give the court reasonable ground to doubt his sanity at the time of the offense,

he failed to meet the threshold requirement of Ake. See Caldwell v. Mississippi, 472 U.S.

320, 324 n.1 (1985) (concluding that because “petitioner offered little more than undeveloped

assertions that the requested assistance would be beneficial, [there was] no deprivation of due

process”). Thus, the Arizona Supreme Court reasonably rejected the allegation in Claim 4.

In addition to an insanity defense, Petitioner claims his request for psychiatric

assistance and testing could have aided him in the presentation of “viable defenses” of

“intoxication and its impact on Petitioner’s mind,” including the issues “of whether or not

he had a culpable mental state or was capable of ‘reflecting’ as is required for

premeditation.”11 (Dkt. 42 at 5.) The Court disagrees. 

Although there was evidence arguably suggestive of a memory lapse possibly related

to Petitioner’s alleged intoxication, this evidence is not sufficient to show that Petitioner’s

mental capacity at the time of the offense was likely to be a significant factor in his defense.

As Respondents note, Petitioner was charged with first degree murder and the mental state

was alleged alternatively as “intentionally or knowingly.” (Dkt. 43 at 11.) Thus, intent was

not a necessary element of first degree murder, and the jury was therefore not permitted to

consider Petitioner’s intoxication as a defense. See Schurz, 176 at 54-55, 859 P.2d at

164-165 (intent is not a necessary element of first degree murder where the mental state is

alleged alternatively as “intentionally or knowingly”). Pursuant to Arizona statute, A.R.S.

§13-503, the jury may consider a defendant’s voluntary intoxication only when the mental

state of “intentionally or with the intent to is a necessary element” of the offense. See also

State v. Ramos, 133 Ariz. 4, 6, 648 P.2d 119, 121 (1982) (evidence of intoxication allowed

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 14 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 15 -

to negate the mental state of “intentionally,” but not the mental state of “knowingly”).

Because Petitioner was alleged to have acted knowingly in committing first degree murder,

and evidence of intoxication can only be considered when intent is a necessary element of

such offense, psychiatric assistance and testing would not have aided Petitioner in presenting

a “viable defense” of “intoxication and its impact on [his] mind.” (Dkt. 41 at 5.) 

Moreover, as opposed to insanity – the mental condition at issue in Ake – the effect

of alcohol intoxication and alcoholism are within the common knowledge and experience of

the jury, and therefore no expert testimony is needed to assist the trier of fact. See State v.

Laffoon, 125 Ariz. 484, 610 P.2d 1045 (1980). Thus, trial courts are permitted to preclude

psychiatric testimony relating to the effect of alcohol upon the ability to form specific intent,

even “where the intoxication is related to chronic alcoholism and there is evidence the

accused may have suffered a black-out at the time of the crime.” State v. Hicks, 133 Ariz.

64, 71, 649 P.2d 267, 274 (1982) (“trial court properly denied appellant’s very general

request for psychiatric proof on the issue of alcoholic black-outs as it relates to specific intent

under Arizona law”); see also State v. Herrera, 176 Ariz. 21, 32, 859 P.2d 131, 142 (1993).

Regarding Petitioner’s premeditation argument, “[t]he fact that first-degree murder

requires a finding of premeditation has no bearing” on the rule that the jury may not consider

intoxication as a defense in a case where the defendant is charged with intentionally or

knowingly committing first degree murder. State v. Rankovich, 159 Ariz. 116, 125, 765 P.2d

518, 524 (1988). Under Arizona law “a defendant premeditates his crime if he either intends

or knows that his acts will kill another human being, and his intention or knowledge precedes

the killing by a length of time to permit reflection.” Id. Because Petitioner was alleged to

have acted knowingly or intentionally and evidence of intoxication may not be used to negate

the mental state of knowingly, Petitioner has failed to show that intoxication was a significant

factor at trial pursuant to Ake. See State v. Lopez, 163 Ariz. 108, 111, 786 P.2d 959, 963

(1990) (holding that because a defendant need only act knowingly in committing

premeditated murder, evidence of a defendant’s intoxication does not require a lesser seconddegree murder instruction).

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 15 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

12 See also Summerlin v. Stewart, 267 F.3d 926, 947-48 (9th Cir. 2001), rev’d on

other grounds, 542 U.S. 348 (2004) (“Although a defense of diminished capacity may not

be used during the guilt phase of a murder trial to defeat a required mental state, proof of

diminished capacity is admissible in Arizona as a mitigating circumstance for sentencing.

See A.R.S. 13-703(G)(1).”).

- 16 -

Petitioner also argues that his purported inability to “recall events around the time of

the crime, his habits and behavior [reflecting] a serious mental problem, and [the fact that]

he possibly suffered from organic brain damage” are relevant to the determination of his

“inability to form the requisite mental states of knowledge or premeditation.” (Dkt. 62 at 9.)

The Court rejects this argument because Arizona does not allow expert testimony regarding

a defendant’s mental disorder short of insanity as an affirmative defense or to negate the

mens rea element of a crime. See State v. Mott, 187 Ariz. 536, 541, 931 P.2d 1046, 1051

(1997); see also Clark v. Arizona, 126 S. Ct. 2709 (2006) (upholding the rule established in

State v. Mott). Indeed, Petitioner’s argument that “[e]xpert testimony would have addressed

[his] inability to form the requisite mental states of knowledge or premeditation” (Dkt. 62 at

9), constitutes an argument aimed at negating the mens rea element of the crime. “Courts

have ‘referred to the use of expert psychiatric evidence to negate mens rea as a diminished

capacity or diminished responsibility defense.’” Mott, 187 Ariz. at 540, 931 P.2d at 1050.

The Arizona legislature has declined to adopt the defense of diminished capacity. Id.

12

Because any showing of diminished capacity would not have provided a viable defense to

the charge of first degree murder, Petitioner failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability

that a psychiatric expert would aid in his guilt phase defense and that the denial of expert

assistance would result in an unfair trial. See Ake, 470 U.S. at 82 (standard requires that

defendant demonstrate that the desired expert assistance be a “significant factor in his

defense” and that with such assistance he or she will enjoy a “reasonable chance of

success.”); cf. Starr v. Lockhart, 23 F.3d 1280, 1288 (8th Cir. 1994) (Starr’s mental condition

fell within Ake because his mental condition was seriously in issue as it was his only viable

defense).

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 16 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 17 -

Petitioner relies heavily on Ake (Dkt. 62 at 2-6, 12-14), but the present case is easily

distinguishable. In Ake, the Supreme Court catalogued the numerous circumstances

supporting the defendant’s need for expert assistance:

[I]t is clear that Ake’s mental state at the time of the offense was a substantial

factor in his defense, and that the trial court was on notice of that fact when the

request for a court-appointed psychiatrist was made. For one, Ake’s sole

defense was that of insanity. Second, Ake’s behavior at arraignment, just four

months after the offense, was so bizarre as to prompt the trial judge, sua

sponte, to have him examined for competency. Third, a state psychiatrist

shortly thereafter found Ake to be incompetent to stand trial, and suggested

that he be committed. Fourth, when he was found to be competent six weeks

later, it was only on the condition that he be sedated with large doses of

Thorazine three times a day, during trial. Fifth, the psychiatrists who

examined Ake for competency described to the trial court the severity of Ake’s

mental illness less than six months after the offense in question, and suggested

that this mental illness might have begun many years earlier.

Ake, 470 U.S. at 86.

In the instant case, a psychiatric evaluation found Petitioner competent to stand trial.

Unlike the defendant in Ake, there is no indication in the record that Petitioner’s behavior

was bizarre before, during, or after the murder. Similarly, in contrast to Ake, Dr. Potts did

not recommend commitment, further observation, or medication after evaluating Petitioner.

The nature of the crime further suggests Petitioner was sane at the time of the offense. In

contrast with Ake, nothing about the circumstances of the crime suggests that the murderer

was insane. Petitioner and the victim were involved in an altercation. As the altercation

progressed, the victim retreated under a fence and was left trapped between a brick wall and

a stairwell. Seeing that the victim could not escape, Petitioner found some gasoline and

splashed the victim with it. Petitioner then lit a puddle of gasoline on fire. Because the

flames were not progressing toward the victim, Petitioner intentionally kicked the fire toward

the victim and he went up in flames. Petitioner then hurriedly left the scene with Patrick

Allison. (See RT 6/6/90 at 101-05.)

For all of these reasons, the Court concludes that the evidence presented by Petitioner

does not approach the showing found sufficient by the Supreme Court in Ake. The Arizona

court’s denial of this claim was not an unreasonable application of federal law; therefore,

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 17 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

13 Petitioner’s reliance on Smith v. McCormick, 914 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1990),

is misplaced. (Dkt. 41 at 3-4; Dkt. 62 at 5-6.) In Smith, the Ninth Circuit considered a

petitioner’s right under Ake to an adversarial psychiatrist at sentencing to help establish

mitigating circumstances. Id. at 1157. Petitioner makes no Ake claim here with regard to his

sentencing as the trial court granted Petitioner’s motion for a mental health expert to help

establish mitigating circumstances at sentencing. (ROA 116.)

14 In his reply brief, Petitioner raises an additional legal claim that was not

factually developed or presented as part of Claim 7 in his Second Amended Petition;

Petitioner claims for the first time that the state court improperly considered Dr. Tatro’s

report as aggravating evidence. Because a reply brief is not the proper pleading to raise an

additional ground for relief, this claim is not properly before the Court. See Cacoperdo v.

Demosthenes, 37 F.3d 504, 507 (9th Cir. 1994) (habeas claims must be raised in the petition,

“[t]hen the State can answer and the action can proceed”).

Even if the Court were to consider this additional claim, it would not entitle Petitioner

to relief. See Simmons v. South Carolina, 512 U.S. 154, 162-63 (1994) (stating that “once

the [sentencer] finds that the defendant falls within the legislatively defined category of

persons eligible for the death penalty . . . the [sentencer] then is free to consider a myriad of

factors to determine whether death is the appropriate punishment” including evidence in

aggravation that is not related to statutory aggravating circumstances).

- 18 -

relief on Claim 4 is denied.13

Claim 7: As Applied to the Facts of This Case, the Death Penalty Is Cruel

and Unusual Punishment

Petitioner argues that the mitigating evidence presented at sentencing outweighed the

lone aggravating circumstance and therefore the death penalty, as imposed upon him,

constitutes cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. (Dkt. 41

at 13-17.) Specifically, Petitioner claims that both the trial court and the Arizona Supreme

Court refused to consider and give weight to mitigation evidence in the form of his

“traumatic upbringing,” his “intoxication on the evening of the offense,” and other mitigating

information. (Dkt. 134 at 30-36.)14 

The Supreme Court has established that under the Eighth and Fourteenth

Amendments, the sentencer in a death penalty case may not be precluded from considering

and may not refuse to consider any constitutionally relevant mitigating evidence. See Lockett

v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586, 604 (1978); Eddings v. Oklahoma, 455 U.S. 104, 113-14 (1982)

(concluding that the state court refused to consider petitioner’s mitigation evidence regarding

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 18 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 19 -

his social upbringing). However, it is for the sentencer to determine how much weight to

accord such evidence. See Eddings, 455 U.S. at 114-15. In Lockett and Eddings, the

Supreme Court did not attempt to regulate how state courts weigh submitted mitigation

evidence. The role of the habeas court is to review the record to ensure that the state court

allowed and considered all relevant mitigation. See Jeffers v. Lewis, 38 F.3d 411, 418 (9th

Cir. 1994) (en banc) (holding that when it is evident that all mitigating evidence was

considered, trial court is not required to discuss each piece of such evidence). 

The Arizona Supreme Court specifically considered Petitioner’s argument that his

intoxication on the day of the murder constituted a statutory mitigating circumstance. See

Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 56-57, 859 P.2d at 166-67. Regarding Petitioner’s intoxication as a nonstatutory mitigating circumstance, this Court previously stated:

In Arizona, sentencing courts have been instructed that if mitigation

does not rise to the level of a statutory mitigating circumstance, relevant

mitigation must be considered as non-statutory mitigation in order to determine

whether the defendant should be treated with leniency. See State v.

McMurtrey, 136 Ariz. 93, 102, 664 P.2d 637, 646 (1983). In the special

verdict, in addition to finding that Petitioner experienced alcohol dependance

and mixed substance abuse as non-statutory mitigating factors, the sentencing

court stated that it considered these mitigating factors as well as all those listed

in Petitioner’s sentencing memorandum. (ROA 137 at 8.) Petitioner’s

allegations of intoxication at the time of the crime were argued to the

sentencing court in his sentencing memorandum. (Id.) Thus, the sentencing

record demonstrates that the sentencing court as well as the Arizona Supreme

Court were able to and did consider Petitioner’s intoxication evidence as nonstatutory mitigation. See Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 55-57, 859 P.2d at 165-67. The

Arizona Supreme Court’s conclusion – that the trial court considered all

proffered mitigation evidence – was not contrary to or an unreasonable

application of the principles set forth in Lockett and Eddings. 

Dkt. 133 at 22-23. 

Nevertheless, Petitioner renews his argument here, maintaining that his intoxication

evidence was not considered because Arizona requires a causal connection between

intoxication evidence and the crime before it considers the information relevant. (Dkt. 62

at 27-30.) The Court again rejects this argument.

 In conducting its independent review of a death sentence, the Arizona Supreme Court

has confirmed that its consideration of mitigating information does not require the

establishment of a nexus between the mitigating factor and the crime. See State v. Newell,

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 19 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 20 -

212 Ariz. 389, 405, 132 P.3d 833, 849 (2006) (“We do not require a nexus between the

mitigating factors and the crime to be established before we consider the mitigation

evidence.”). However, as occurred here, the failure to link the mitigating factor – in this

case, Petitioner’s intoxication – and the crime may be considered in assessing the quality and

strength of the mitigation evidence. Id.

Similarly, it is clear that the state court considered evidence of Petitioner’s difficult

family background and other mitigating circumstances that were presented in Petitioner’s

sentencing memorandum. (ROA 134; Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 55-56, 859 P.2d at 165-66.)

Therefore, the state court’s consideration of the mitigation in this case was not contrary to

or an unreasonable application of Lockett and Eddings. Relief on Claim 7 is denied.

Claims 9(A)-(C) and (E): Ineffective Assistance of Counsel at Trial 

Claims of ineffective assistance of counsel are governed by Strickland v. Washington,

466 U.S. 668 (1984). See Wilson v. Henry, 185 F.3d 986, 988 (9th Cir. 1999). To prevail

on a claim of ineffective assistance of counsel, a petitioner must show that counsel’s

performance was deficient and that the deficient performance prejudiced his defense.

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 687. The performance inquiry asks whether counsel’s assistance was

reasonable considering all the circumstances. Id. at 688-89. “[A] court must indulge a strong

presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the wide range of reasonable professional

assistance; that is, the defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the

circumstances, the challenged action ‘might be considered sound trial strategy.’” Id. at 689.

 A petitioner must affirmatively prove prejudice by “show[ing] that there is a

reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the

proceeding would have been different.” Id. at 694. “A reasonable probability is a probability

sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Id. “The assessment of prejudice

should proceed on the assumption that the decision-maker is reasonably, conscientiously, and

impartially applying the standards that govern the decision.” Id. at 695. If the state’s case

is weak, there is a greater likelihood of a reasonable probability that the outcome of the trial

would have been different. Johnson v. Baldwin, 114 F.3d 835, 839-40 (9th Cir. 1997).

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 20 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 21 -

A court need not address both components of the inquiry, or follow any particular

order in assessing deficiency and prejudice. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697. If it is easier to

dispose of an ineffectiveness claim on the ground of lack of prejudice, without evaluating

counsel’s performance, then that course should be taken. Id.

To obtain habeas relief on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, it is not enough

for a petitioner to convince a federal habeas court that, in its independent judgment, the statecourt decision applied either prong of Strickland incorrectly. Rather, the petitioner must

show that the state court’s decision was contrary to or involved an objectively unreasonable

application of the Strickland standard law. See Bell v. Cone, 535 U.S. 697, 699 (2002).

Claim 9(A)

Petitioner contends he was denied effective assistance of counsel during the guilt

phase of trial because defense counsel was unprepared and failed to obtain a continuance.

According to Petitioner, a continuance was necessary to enable counsel to prepare for the

cross-examination of Patrick Allison and to obtain a mental health expert to analyze and

assist with Petitioner’s defense. (Dkt. 41 at 18-21.) 

Background

On February 5, 1990, the Honorable Howard Peterson set a trial date of April 4, 1990.

(ROA 29.) On March 30, the court granted Petitioner’s motion to sever his trial from codefendant Allison’s trial, and continued Petitioner’s trial date to April 17. (ME 47.) On

April 6, the prosecution provided notice that it intended to seek the death penalty against

Petitioner and provided a list of witnesses for trial. (ROA 56, 58.) Allison was not named

as a potential witness. (ROA 58.) 

On April 17, the court granted Petitioner’s motion to continue the trial date and

rescheduled the trial to begin May 17, on the ground that Petitioner had “not yet been granted

interviews with any of the State’s witnesses.” (ME 65; ROA 64.) On May 10, the trial court

heard oral argument on Allison’s motion to dismiss or remand his severed case for a new

determination of probable cause (the “Motion to Dismiss”), and took the matter under

advisement. (ME 70.) On May 17, the court granted Petitioner’s request to continue the trial

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 21 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 22 -

date and the trial was rescheduled to start on June 4. (ME 71.)

On May 30, Petitioner filed a motion to continue the trial on the grounds that (1) the

court had not yet ruled on Allison’s Motion to Dismiss, and “if the Court does so on June 4th

it may affect [Allison’s] decision as to whether to testify or not, giving [Petitioner]

inadequate opportunity to interview him and consider and prepare necessary strategy as a

result of the Court’s ruling,” and (2) Petitioner’s motion for funds to obtain transcripts of

taped interviews had not yet been granted and such transcripts were necessary for trial

preparation. (ROA 74.) That same day, the trial court approved Petitioner’s request for

funds to transcribe the interviews, but did not rule on his motion to continue the trial date.

(ME 73.)

Also on May 30, the prosecution provided notice that Allison was a potential

prosecution witness at Petitioner’s trial. (ROA 75.) On May 31, the prosecution filed an

opposition to Petitioner’s motion to continue the trial date beyond June 4 on the grounds that

(1) the June 4 date was “agreed by the parties to be a firm date”; (2) Petitioner’s counsel was

notified on May 30 that Allison “would enter a Change of Plea on Friday, June 1, 1990 and

is to be interviewed by defense counsel immediately thereafter, on the basis Allison shall

testify as a witness in [Petitioner’s] trial on June 5, 1990”; and (3) any delay in the trial date

would severely prejudice the prosecution because “[d]istant witnesses have come to testify,

and other transient witnesses are still available, but may not be hereafter.” (ROA 77.) 

On June 1, Allison pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated robbery in exchange for

dismissal of the first degree murder charge and a sentence of probation. (ME 80; ROA 79.)

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Allison was required to testify “fully, accurately, truthfully,

[and] completely as to the acts of [Petitioner] and of the events [and] circumstances resulting

in the burning and death of [the victim, Jonathan] Bahe on December 2, 1989.” (ROA 79.)

Later that same day, defense counsel interviewed Allison. (RT 6/6/90 at 106, 112.)

On Monday, June 4, the day Petitioner’s trial was scheduled to begin, his case was

transferred from Judge Peterson to the Honorable Steven Sheldon. (ME 85.) “[O]ff the

record” and “informally,” defense counsel renewed his request for a continuance. (ROA 114

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 22 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

15 In support of his first PCR petition, Petitioner submitted an affidavit asserting

that defense counsel did not perform an adequate cross-examination of Allison and that the

trial should have been postponed until he was better prepared to do so. (ROA 154 at 4.) The

state courts were given an opportunity but they did not address the substance of Claim 9(A);

therefore, this Court undertakes a de novo review of this claim on the merits. See Lewis v.

Mayle, 391 F.3d 989, 996 (9th Cir. 2004).

- 23 -

at 6.) Judge Sheldon indicated his intent to summarily deny the motion beyond one day.

(ROA 114 at 6, 118 at 3-4.) Petitioner then requested a change of judge, and the case was

reassigned from Judge Sheldon to the Honorable John Seidel. (ME 88.)

On June 5, Judge Seidel heard pretrial motions and discussed the trial schedule with

counsel. (ME 89.) Defense counsel alerted Judge Seidel to the fact that he was a sole

practitioner and had previously anticipated that trial would be conducted only in the

afternoons, but he could rearrange his schedule to accommodate morning sessions as well.

(RT 6/5/90 at 18-22.) Defense counsel further stated that he had presented a motion to

continue to Judge Sheldon, but would not need the trial date continued if opening arguments

and testimony could be postponed until June 6. (Id. at 21-22.) Judge Seidel agreed to

postpone defense counsel’s opening argument to June 6. (Id. at 22.) That afternoon, before

counsel picked a jury, both the prosecution and defense counsel announced they were

“ready” for trial. (Id. at 57; ME 89 at 2.)

The trial began on Wednesday, June 6. (ME 93.) After counsel for both sides

presented opening arguments and one witness was presented, Allison testified and was crossexamined by defense counsel. (Id. at 3.)

Following the verdict, in his motion for new trial, Petitioner argued that the failure of

the court to rule on the motion to continue, or to rule on it in his favor, prejudiced Petitioner

in presenting an adequate defense to Allison’s testimony. (ROA 114 at 6.) Petitioner’s

motion for new trial was summarily denied on September 19, the same day his presentence

hearing was held. (RT 9/19/90 at 4.) Neither the trial court nor the Arizona Supreme Court

discussed this issue in the PCR proceedings.15

Discussion

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 23 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 24 -

Claim 9(A) essentially alleges a lack of pre-trial preparation. Petitioner claims that

defense counsel, without tactical justification, “failed to pursue and obtain a continuance

[before trial] even though he knew he was not prepared and that going forward at this point

would prejudice his client.” (Dkt. 41 at 20.) If his attorney had been given more time,

Petitioner contends, he “could have actually prepared to cross examine [sic] Patrick Allison,

he could have obtained and worked with a mental health expert to analyze and present

Petitioner’s case.” (Id. at 21.) 

Petitioner first claims that his counsel’s inadequate preparation for trial was partly

caused by defense counsel’s failure “to pursue and obtain a continuance.” (Id. at 20.) This

contention is meritless because Petitioner has demonstrated neither deficient performance nor

prejudice. The need for a continuance is determined by the particular facts of the case and

addressed to the sound discretion of the trial court. United States v. Manos, 848 F.2d 1427,

1434 (7th Cir. 1988). Where a motion for a continuance would prove futile, the failure to

seek one cannot constitute ineffective assistance. See United States v. Kamel, 965 F.2d 484,

498 (7th Cir. 1992). 

Defense counsel did file a motion to continue on May 30 and renewed the request in

the chambers of Judge Sheldon on June 4. Had counsel made a continuance motion on June

6, the first day of a three-day trial, it is unlikely that the motion would have been granted.

Counsel had been allowed adequate time to interview Allison and review the information

obtained, and the trial court had already rejected his request for a mental health expert. See

Manos, 848 F.2d at 1434 (stating that it is not an abuse of discretion to deny a request for a

continuance made on second day of trial to review evidence received the previous day).

Without indicating on what basis defense counsel could have sought and obtained a further

continuance, Petitioner cannot support his contention that trial counsel performed deficiently.

Moreover, even if it is assumed that counsel’s failure to seek a further continuance

was in some way deficient, Petitioner has made no attempt whatsoever to demonstrate any

resulting prejudice. Cf. United States v. Ashimi, 932 F.2d 643, 650 (7th Cir. 1991) (stating

that self-serving speculation about testimony of putative witness is not enough to show how

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 24 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 25 -

counsel’s failure to obtain testimony was ineffective). Petitioner has not offered the Court

any specifics as to what information his counsel would have obtained if the requested

continuance had been granted, see Schone v. Purkett, 15 F.3d 785, 789-90 (8th Cir. 1994) (to

demonstrate Strickland prejudice, prisoner must point to arguments or evidence counsel

could have discovered that would have affected decision to plead guilty), nor has he

explained how this information would have aided him in better challenging Allison’s

testimony to the point of obtaining a verdict of not guilty, see Iron Wing v. United States, 34

F.3d 662, 665 (8th Cir. 1994) (even if counsel had performed as petitioner alleged counsel

should have, government’s case was still as strong and guilty plea was prudent course). 

In addition, Petitioner fails to support his inadequate-preparation claim by identifying

any information that counsel had not already gained from other witnesses that he would have

gained from further interviewing Allison, further questioning his investigator, or generally

taking more time to prepare for Allison’s cross-examination. Cf. Gravenmier v. United

States, 399 F.2d 677, 678-79 (9th Cir. 1968) (counsel was not ineffective in failing to make

personal contact with witnesses or investigate the case where “there is no proof in the record

. . . that any alibi witnesses existed”). Furthermore, the Court cannot question counsel’s

decision not to interview Allison until June 1 because that was the first opportunity he had

to do so. Moreover, there is no evidence that further investigation of Allison, or additional

preparation for cross-examination, would have revealed information that did not otherwise

come to light. See Bragg v. Galaza, 242 F.3d 1082, 1088 (9th Cir. 2001) (“A claim of failure

to interview a witness cannot establish ineffective assistance when the person’s account is

otherwise fairly known to defense counsel.”). Petitioner does nothing more than speculate

that if counsel had conducted further interviews or been allowed more time to prepare, he

might have provided a better cross-examination of Allison or a better defense based on the

advice or testimony of a mental health expert. 

On this record, the Court concludes that Petitioner has not made a sufficient showing

of counsel’s omissions to demonstrate that counsel rendered deficient performance in

preparation for trial. See id. (stating that when the record shows that the lawyer is well

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 25 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 26 -

informed and petitioner does not state what additional information should have been gained,

an ineffective assistance claim fails). In addition, based upon its review of the record, the

Court finds there is not a reasonable probability that Petitioner would not have been found

guilty had his counsel been given more time to prepare for trial by obtaining a continuance.

See Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 58-59 (1985). Thus, Petitioner is not entitled to relief on

Claim 9(A). Similarly, this Court has already rejected Petitioner’s conclusory allegation that

defense counsel could have obtained a mental health expert to analyze and present a guilt

phase defense. See supra note 9. 

Claim 9(B)

Petitioner contends that “he wanted to testify at trial but did not on the advice of his

counsel.” (Dkt. 41 at 21.) Petitioner argues that such advice constituted ineffective

assistance of counsel. (Id.) Other than Allison’s testimony, Petitioner claims that the State

had no evidence that he, rather than Allison, set the victim on fire. (Id.) Therefore,

according to Petitioner, it was imperative for him to testify in his own defense. (Id.) 

Background

Petitioner did not testify at trial. In his first PCR Petition, Petitioner argued that he

received ineffective assistance of counsel because his attorney prevented him from testifying

by telling him that it would hurt his defense. He further alleged that his attorney “misledd

[sic] [him] by getting [him] to agree not to testify.” (ROA 154 at 4.)

During trial, at the close of the prosecution’s case-in-chief, the following colloquy

occurred outside the jury’s presence:

MR. SUSEE: Your Honor, the defense does not intend to call any

witnesses.

THE COURT: Have you discussed it with your – well, since the jury

isn’t here, I’m going to, just so the record is clear, I want to satisfy myself that

you have discussed with Mr. Schurz his rights, both his right not to testify and

his right to testify.

MR. SUSEE: Your Honor, on several occasions Mr. Schurz and I have

had conversations regarding whether he should testify or not. It is his

conclusion – I assured him that it was his absolute right to testify, if he so

chooses. At this time his statement to me is he does not choose to testify.

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 26 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 27 -

THE COURT: And I assume that you told him that it’s his decision,

although you can give him your thoughts and advice, if you will, what you say

is not binding on him and – 

MR. SUSEE: Yes, Your Honor.

THE COURT: – it’s his decision whether or not to testify?

MR. SUSEE: Yes, I have, Your Honor. I emphasized that that is one

of the most important decisions that he does have to make and that it is his

decision, not mine, as to whether he testifies or not.

THE COURT: Do you dispute anything that was said on this point, Mr.

Schurz?

THE DEFENDANT: No.

THE COURT: All right. And I take it, then, you have no other

evidence that you wish to present or offer?

MR. SUSEE: Not at this time, Your Honor.

THE COURT: Your client indicates – you might want to talk to him.

Go ahead.

MR. SUSEE: Excuse me.

(Discussion held off the record)

MR. SUSEE: Excuse me, Your Honor, would it be possible to confer

with my client for say five minutes outside?

THE COURT: Yes, why don’t you. We’ll take a recess and you and

Mr. Schurz can confer. And then what I’ll ask you to do is to come into my

office with Mr. Levy and let me know whether you’re going to proceed with

further evidence, because if you tell me you’re not, then my plan would be to

bring the jury out, to admonish them and send them home and come back first

thing in the morning for closing arguments, and we’ll use the rest of the

afternoon to do instructions.

On the other hand, if you wish to present evidence, then we’ll proceed

with that.

MR. SUSEE: All right.

THE COURT: Okay?

MR. SUSEE: Thank you.

THE COURT: We’ll be in recess.

(Recess taken)

THE COURT: Thank you. The record may show the presence of the

jury, counsel, the Defendant.

Mr. Susee.

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 27 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

16 Petitioner had prior felony convictions for robbery and assault, which, the trial

court ruled, would have been admissible to impeach him if he had testified. (RT 6/5/90 at 27-

32; ME 89.)

- 28 -

MR. SUSEE: Yes, Your Honor. The Defendant has no witnesses he

wishes to present at this time.

THE COURT: Defense rests?

MR. SUSEE: That is correct.

(RT 6/7/90 at 113-15.) The court never questioned Petitioner further about testifying, and

Petitioner did not ask to testify or object to his counsel’s statements.

In ruling on this claim at the PCR stage, the trial court noted that it had made a

specific inquiry on the record “to determine whether defense counsel and [Petitioner] had

conferred with regard to the [Petitioner’s] right to testify or not testify and with regard to the

proposition that the decision was that of [Petitioner].” (ROA 165 at 7.) The trial court found

that the advice given by defense counsel not to testify “constituted effective assistance of

counsel under the circumstances,” because Petitioner was subject to impeachment in several

respects.16 (Id.)

Similarly, the Arizona Supreme Court determined that Petitioner failed to state a

colorable claim of ineffective assistance of counsel:

By failing to explain the way in which counsel’s advice was defective, Schurz

fails to overcome the presumption that it was sound. Schurz does not allege

that he was unaware of his right to testify, nor that counsel deprived him of

this right. It appears merely that he now regrets his decision. In addition, it

is difficult to imagine how his testimony could have changed the outcome of

the trial given that defense counsel thoroughly argued his theory that Allison

rather than Schurz was the murderer.

Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 58, 859 P.2d at 168. 

 Discussion

Petitioner does not claim that he was unaware of his right to testify; he claims only

that his attorney persuaded him not to testify by telling him that his decision to take the stand

and testify would hurt the defense. Petitioner fails to state what defense counsel said or did

other than provide his opinion on the subject that “misled” Petitioner into deciding not to

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 28 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 29 -

testify; presumably, Petitioner has concluded that counsel’s advice was misleading or

unsatisfactory because the jury ultimately found him guilty.

In evaluating an ineffective assistance claim, a reviewing court does not grade trial

counsel’s performance; it examines only whether his conduct was reasonable under

prevailing professional norms and in light of the circumstances of the case. Strickland, 466

U.S. at 688, 697. Because it may be tempting to find an unsuccessful trial strategy to be

unreasonable, “a court must indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within

the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that is, the defendant must overcome

the presumption that, under the circumstances, the challenged action might be considered

sound trial strategy.” Id. at 689. 

Here, trial counsel advised Petitioner not to testify. The advice provided by a criminal

defense lawyer on whether his client should testify is a paradigm of the type of tactical

decision that cannot be challenged as evidence of ineffective assistance. See Hutchins v.

Garrison, 724 F.2d 1425, 1436 (4th Cir. 1983); see also Dows v. Wood, 211 F.3d 480, 487

(9th Cir. 2000) (trial counsel properly advised defendant not to testify due to significant

impeachment from prior felony convictions). Petitioner took trial counsel’s advice and did

not testify. His current disagreement with counsel’s advice does not entitle him to habeas

relief based on ineffective assistance. See Guam v. Santos, 741 F.2d 1167, 1169 (9th Cir.

1984) (a tactical decision of counsel cannot form the basis for a claim of ineffective

assistance of counsel). 

Petitioner has not shown that trial counsel’s actions fell outside the wide range of

professional competence. The state courts’ denial of this claim was not an unreasonable

application of Strickland. Therefore, habeas relief for Claim 9(B) is denied.

Claim 9(C)

Petitioner contends that trial counsel’s cross-examination of co-defendant Allison was

ineffective and prejudiced him at the guilt phase of his trial. As noted above, in undertaking

habeas review of an IAC claim, this Court is highly deferential to strategic trial decisions,

including the scope and manner of cross-examination of witnesses. See Dows, 211 F.3d at

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 29 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 30 -

487. 

Background

In an affidavit attached to his first PCR petition, Petitioner alleged that trial counsel

“did not prepare very well for the cross-examination of co-defendant Patrick Allison” and

that his performance was therefore inadequate. (ROA 154.) Subsequently, counsel filed a

supplemental PCR. (ROA 161.) In the supplemental PCR petition, counsel neither alleged

any additional facts nor presented any additional argument regarding Claim 9(C). (Id.) 

The PCR court analyzed the claim as presenting an allegation of ineffective assistance

of counsel. (ME 2/14/92.) The PCR court recalled that defense counsel had interviewed

Allison prior to the beginning of trial. (Id.) In evaluating Petitioner’s claim, the court

pointed out that Petitioner had not presented any specific allegations regarding alleged

deficiencies in the cross-examination of Allison, such as “what questions should have been

asked which were not asked.” (Id.) In the absence of any specific allegations of deficient

performance or prejudice, the PCR court denied relief. (Id.)

Petitioner filed a petition for review, and the Arizona Supreme Court resolved Claim

9(C) in much the same manner as the PCR court. Utilizing the standard from Strickland, the

court stated:

With this standard in mind, it is clear that Schurz has failed to state a colorable

claim based on counsel’s . . . allegedly inadequate cross-examination of

Allison. . . . [H]e fails to explain the way in which counsel’s preparation for

cross-examination of Allison was inadequate, what questions should have been

asked, or how they would have affected the outcome of the trial. 

Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 58, 859 P.2d at 168. 

Discussion

Despite not raising any of the following assertions in state court, Petitioner contends

that counsel failed to adequately impeach Allison regarding his favorable plea agreement,

his prior felony conviction, and inconsistent statements made to Detective Saldate during the

investigation. (Dkt. 41 at 21-31.) Respondents do not object to the tardiness of the

arguments. (Dkt. 43 at 33.) Because the allegations were never presented to or considered

by the state court, this Court’s review is de novo. See Lewis, 391 F.3d at 996.

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 30 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 31 -

Plea Agreement

Petitioner argues that trial counsel failed to fully explore the benefits that Allison

received under his plea agreement and, as a result, the jury did not have a full appreciation

of how much the plea agreement influenced Allison’s testimony against him. (Id. at 22-25.)

Petitioner argues that the plea agreement resulted in Allison avoiding almost thirty years of

prison, a fact that counsel should have used to impeach Allison’s testimony more thoroughly.

(Id.)

The Court concludes that counsel did an adequate job of emphasizing to the jury the

importance of the plea agreement and how such an agreement could have affected Allison’s

testimony. For example, during his opening argument, counsel informed the jury: 

The only person of such substance that you will hear from who does

have every reason in the world to give you a different story – and we’ll hear

that, as you have heard from the County Attorney, that [Allison] has signed a

plea agreement that virtually turns him free in exchange for testifying against

Eldon Schurz. 

(RT 6/6/90 at 37.) During cross-examination, counsel had Allison admit that he was

testifying pursuant to a plea agreement through which he had avoided a considerable prison

sentence. (Id. 6/6/90 at 119-20.) Further, counsel argued during his closing:

You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that if there are two people

charged with a crime, that only the two of them witnessed, that each of them

is going to say the other one did it. Each of them is going to be – especially

in a case where the stakes are this high – willing to say for the – in exchange

for a promise that they go free, whatever it takes.

(RT 6/8/90 at 30.) Referring to the favorable terms that Allison received under the plea

agreement, counsel argued that the State had “purchased the cooperation, the testimony of

Patrick Allison.” (Id.) 

Under Strickland, the standard for effective performance is not perfect advocacy. See

Dows, 211 F.3d at 487. This is particularly true when evaluating tactical decisions such as

those involved in the questioning of witnesses. Id. Thus, under Strickland, counsel’s crossexamination of witnesses must be only objectively reasonable, not flawless or to the highest

degree of skill. Id. Applying this standard, trial counsel’s performance, while not stellar,

was not constitutionally deficient. He used Allison’s favorable plea agreement to challenge

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 31 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 32 -

the witness’s credibility before the jury. 

Prior Felony Conviction

Next, Petitioner contends that trial counsel did not do an adequate job of impeaching

Allison on the basis of his prior felony conviction. (Dkt. 41 at 25-28.) Petitioner contends

that counsel’s cross-examination left Allison basically unimpeached and that there was no

tactical reason for this failure. (Id.)

The fact that Allison had a previous felony conviction was presented to the jury. Trial

counsel first alerted the jury to this fact during his opening statement: 

Now, I don’t have to tell you that when there are only two persons watching

something, only two persons present, who knows [sic?] what actually

happened. We have a real problem determining who says what and what

happened, because we only have their word. So you have to look closely at

how reliable is Patrick Allison? Can we – and, in fact, what you’re going to

see will help tell you whether we can depend on him to give us the truth in this

matter or not. You will hear that Patrick has previously been convicted of a

felony offense.

(RT 6/6/90 at 38.) Under cross-examination by defense counsel, Allison admitted that he had

a felony conviction on his record. (Id. at 130-31.)

While counsel could have done a more thorough job impeaching Allison on the basis

of his prior felony conviction, counsel did establish the fact before the jury and thus the jury

could use the information is assessing the witness’s credibility. Counsel’s decision to not

require Allison to specify the nature of his prior felony conviction, which was a minor felony

for possession of a vapor releasing toxic substance, was strategic and thus is accorded great

deference. See Dows, 211 F.3d at 487; Gustave v. United States, 627 F.2d 901, 904 (9th Cir.

1980) (mere criticism of a tactic or strategy is not in itself sufficient to support a charge of

inadequate representation). Again, as to this aspect of the claim, counsel’s performance,

while not stellar, was not ineffective; he placed Allison’s credibility at issue before the jury

based on the prior felony conviction.

Inconsistent Statements to Detective Saldate

Finally, Petitioner contends that counsel ineffectively cross-examined Allison

regarding inconsistencies in his statements to Detective Saldate during the homicide

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 32 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 33 -

investigation. (Dkt. 41 at 28-31.) He also faults counsel for not raising Allison’s

inconsistent story during counsel’s cross-examination of Detective Saldate. (Id.)

During cross-examination, counsel impeached Allison by having him admit that the

original story he told to Detective Saldate was not true. (RT 6/6/90 at 117.) Even though the

impeachment was not extensive, counsel did raise Allison’s inconsistent statements to

Detective Saldate before the jury. Counsel’s performance was not ineffective; he placed

Allison’s credibility at issue before the jury based on his inconsistent statements to the

detective. 

Conclusion

Counsel’s cross-examination of Allison was not objectively unreasonable. He placed

Allison’s credibility squarely before the jury for its consideration. Absent a showing of

deficient performance, there is no need to consider prejudice. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at

687. Habeas relief on Claim 9(C) is denied.

Claim 9(E)

Petitioner contends that trial counsel conducted an ineffective trial investigation

because he failed to locate a missing “white male” who had been at the murder scene, failed

to call any witnesses to testify on his behalf at trial, failed to produce additional evidence of

Petitioner’s intoxication at the time of the homicide, and failed to produce forensic evidence

that Allison committed the murder. (Dkt. 41 at 31-32.) Petitioner presented only the first of

these claims to the state court. (ROA 154.) Thus, this allegation is reviewed pursuant to 28

U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1). The rest of the allegations are reviewed de novo. Lewis, 391 F.3d at

996.

Background

In an affidavit attached to his first PCR petition, Petitioner alleged that trial counsel

“did not look very hard for the one person who was very important to my case. And that was

the white male that I had a confrontation with the night of the murder. I feel that if he had

testified at my trial, the verdict would have been different.” (ROA 154.) Counsel filed a

supplemental PCR petition, but the supplemental PCR neither alleged any additional facts

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 33 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 34 -

nor presented any additional argument regarding Claim 9(E). (ROA 161.) 

The PCR court analyzed the claim as presenting an allegation of ineffective assistance

of counsel and resolved the claim as follows: 

The Court notes that Petitioner does not state or even suggest what defense

counsel should have done to try to find this person. The evidence presented

at trial showed that most, if not all, of the people who were present when the

murder occurred, were transients. It is therefore questionable, if not

improbable, that this witness could have been located to appear at trial. Even

if he had, there is nothing in the Petition which states or even suggests what he

would have said. Without this it would be impossible to conclude that this

witness testimony would show a reasonable probability that if the witness had

testified, a different result would have occurred. 

(ROA 165.) Petitioner filed a petition for review, but the Arizona Supreme Court resolved

the allegations in Claim 9(E) in much the same manner as the PCR court. Utilizing the

standard from Strickland, the court stated:

With this standard in mind, it is clear that Schurz has failed to state a

colorable claim based on counsel’s failure to locate the unidentified white male

. . . Defendant does not state what the white male’s testimony might have been

or how it would have affected the trial, but merely argues that had this witness

been found, the verdict would have been different.

Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 58, 859 P.2d at 168. 

Discussion

Petitioner failed to allege the manner in which counsel’s performance was deficient

with respect to his investigation of the alleged white male supposedly at the scene of the

attempted robbery. However, even if counsel’s investigation was deficient, Petitioner failed

to allege how the deficient investigation prejudiced him at trial. Therefore, the state court’s

conclusion denying relief regarding this allegation did not involve an unreasonable

application of Strickland. 

Regarding the other deficient performance allegations of Claim 9(E), Petitioner’s

allegations of prejudice are purely speculative. He has not attempted to meet his burden with

respect to prejudice by offering specific allegations regarding uncalled witnesses, additional

evidence of intoxication, and other forensic evidence. See, e.g., United States v. Berry, 814

F.2d 1406, 1409 (9th Cir. 1987) (stating that mere speculation about the possible testimony

of uncalled witnesses does not establish the prejudice prong of an ineffective assistance

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 34 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

17 The Court denied Petitioner’s requests for evidentiary development of Claims

9(A)-(E), 10(A), and 10(B) in an order filed September 30, 2005. (Dkt. 128.) As previously

discussed in supra note 3, Petitioner later combined and redominiated Claims 10(A) and

10(B), as Claim 11(A).

- 35 -

claim). Therefore, Claim 9(E) is meritless.

LEGAL STANDARDS FOR EVIDENTIARY DEVELOPMENT

As discussed more fully below, Petitioner requests evidentiary development of newlyamended Claims 9(F)-(I), 10(C), 11(A), and 11(C).17 The Court first sets forth the pertinent

legal standards before addressing the merits and evidentiary requests as to these claims.

Discovery

Rule 6(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases provides that “[a] judge may,

for good cause, authorize a party to conduct discovery under the Federal Rules of Civil

Procedure, and may limit the extent of discovery.” Rule 6(a), Rules Governing § 2254

Cases, 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254 (emphasis added). Thus, unlike the usual civil litigant in

federal court, a habeas petitioner is not entitled to discovery “as a matter of ordinary course,”

Bracy v. Gramley, 520 U.S. 899, 904 (1997); see Campbell v. Blodgett, 982 F.2d 1356, 1358

(1993), nor should courts allow him to “use federal discovery for fishing expeditions to

investigate mere speculation,” Calderon v. United States Dist. Ct. for the N. Dist. of Cal.

(Nicolaus), 98 F.3d 1102, 1106 (9th Cir. 1996); see also Rich v. Calderon, 187 F.3d 1064,

1067 (9th Cir. 1999) (habeas corpus is not intended to be used as a fishing expedition for

petitioners to “explore their case in search of its existence”) (quoting Aubut v. State of Maine,

431 F.2d 688, 689 (1st Cir. 1970)). To determine whether a petitioner has established “good

cause” for discovery under Rule 6(a), a habeas court must identify the essential elements of

the petitioner’s substantive claim and evaluate whether “specific allegations before the court

show reason to believe that the petitioner may, if the facts are fully developed, be able to

demonstrate that he is . . . entitled to relief.” Bracy, 520 U.S. at 908-09 (quoting Harris v.

Nelson, 394 U.S. 286, 300 (1969)).

Evidentiary Hearing

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 35 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 36 -

Historically, the district court had considerable discretion to hold an evidentiary

hearing to resolve disputed issues of material fact. See Townsend v. Sain, 372 U.S. 293, 312,

318 (1963), overruled in part by Keeney v. Tamayo-Reyes, 504 U.S. 1 (1992), and limited

by § 2254(e)(2); Baja v. Ducharme, 187 F.3d 1075, 1077-78 (9th Cir. 1999); Rule 8, Rules

Governing § 2254 Cases, 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254 (district court judge shall determine if an

evidentiary hearing is required). That discretion is significantly circumscribed by §

2254(e)(2) of the AEDPA. See Baja, 187 F.3d at 1077-78.

Section 2254 provides that:

If the applicant has failed to develop the factual basis of a claim in State court

proceedings, the court shall not hold an evidentiary hearing on the claim

unless the applicant shows that –

(A) the claim relies on – 

(i) a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to cases on

collateral review by the Supreme Court, that was previously

unavailable; or

(ii) a factual predicate that could not have been previously discovered

 through the exercise of due diligence; and 

(B) the facts underlying the claim would be sufficient to establish by clear and

convincing evidence that but for constitutional error, no reasonable factfinder

would have found the applicant guilty of the underlying offense.

28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(2) (emphasis added). The Supreme Court has interpreted subsection

(e)(2) as precluding an evidentiary hearing in federal court if the failure to develop a claim’s

factual basis is due to a “lack of diligence, or some greater fault, attributable to the prisoner

or the prisoner’s counsel.” Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. 420, 432 (2000). A hearing is not

barred, however, when a petitioner diligently attempts to develop the factual basis of a claim

in state court and is “thwarted, for example, by the conduct of another or by happenstance

was denied the opportunity to do so.” Id.; see Baja, 187 F.3d at 1078-79 (allowing hearing

when state court denied opportunity to develop factual basis of claim). 

When the factual basis for a particular claim has not been fully developed in state

court, the district court must first determine whether the petitioner was diligent in attempting

to develop the factual record. See Baja, 187 F.3d at 1078 (quoting Cardwell v. Greene, 152

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 36 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 37 -

F.3d 331, 337 (4th Cir. 1998)). The diligence assessment is an objective one, requiring a

determination of whether a petitioner “made a reasonable attempt, in light of the information

available at the time, to investigate and pursue claims in state court.” Williams, 529 U.S. at

435. For example, when there is information in the record that would alert a reasonable

attorney to the existence and importance of certain evidence, the attorney fails to develop the

factual record if he does not make reasonable efforts to sufficiently investigate and present

the evidence to the state court. See id. at 438-39, 442; Alley v. Bell, 307 F.3d 380, 390-91

(6th Cir. 2002) (lack of diligence because petitioner knew of and raised the claims in state

court, but failed to investigate all the factual grounds for such claims).

Absent unusual circumstances, diligence requires that a petitioner “at a minimum,

seek an evidentiary hearing in state court in the manner prescribed by state law.” Williams,

529 U.S. at 437; see Bragg v. Galaza, 242 F.3d 1082, 1090 (9th Cir.) (finding no diligence

because petitioner neither requested an evidentiary hearing in the trial court nor filed a state

habeas petition), amended on denial of reh’g, 253 F.3d 1150 (9th Cir. 2001). The mere

request for an evidentiary hearing, however, may not be sufficient to establish diligence if

a reasonable person would have taken additional steps. See Dowthitt v. Johnson, 230 F.3d

733, 758 (5th Cir. 2000) (failed to present affidavits of family members that were easily

obtained without court order and with minimal expense); see also McNair v. Campbell, 416

F.3d 1291, 1299-1300 (11th Cir. 2005) (no development of evidence available through

petitioner, family members, and medical literature, and no appeal of denial of funds and

hearing); Cannon v. Mullin, 383 F.3d 491, 500 (5th Cir. 2004) (lack of diligence if petitioner

does not proffer “evidence that would be readily available if the claim were true.”); Koste v.

Dormire, 345 F.3d 974, 985-86 (8th Cir. 2003) (no effort to develop the record or assert any

facts to support claim).

In sum, if this Court determines that a petitioner has not been diligent in establishing

the factual basis for his claims in state court, then the Court may not conduct a hearing unless

the petitioner satisfies one of § 2254(e)(2)’s narrow exceptions. If, however, the petitioner

has not failed to develop the factual basis of a claim in state court, the Court will then

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 37 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 38 -

proceed to consider whether a hearing is appropriate or required under the criteria set forth

by the Supreme Court in Townsend. 372 U.S. 293; see Baja, 187 F.3d at 1078 (quoting

Cardwell, 152 F.3d at 337); Horton v. Mayle, 408 F.3d 570, 582 n.6 (9th Cir. 2005).

Pursuant to Townsend, a federal district court must hold an evidentiary hearing in a

§ 2254 case when: (1) the facts are in dispute; (2) the petitioner “alleges facts which, if

proved, would entitle him to relief;” and (3) the state court has not “reliably found the

relevant facts” after a “full and fair evidentiary hearing,” at trial or in a collateral proceeding.

Townsend, 372 U.S. at 312-13; cf. Hill v. Lockhart, 474 U.S. 52, 60 (1985) (upholding the

denial of a hearing when petitioner’s allegations were insufficient to satisfy the governing

legal standard); Bashor v. Risley, 730 F.2d 1228 (9th Cir. 1984) (hearing not required when

claim must be resolved on state court record or claim is based on non-specific conclusory

allegations). In addition, the Court established six circumstances under which there is

presumptively no “full and fair hearing” at the state level:

 (1) the merits of the factual dispute were not resolved in the state hearing;

(2) the state factual determination is not fairly supported by the record as a

whole;

(3) the fact-finding procedure employed by the state court was not adequate to

afford a full and fair hearing; 

(4) there is a substantial allegation of newly discovered evidence;

(5) the material facts were not adequately developed at the state-court hearing;

or

(6) for any reason it appears that the state trier of fact did not afford the habeas

applicant a full and fair fact hearing.

Townsend, 372 U.S. at 313. In any other case in which diligence has been established, the

district court judge “has the power, constrained only by his sound discretion, to receive

evidence bearing upon the applicant’s constitutional claim.” Id. at 318 (noting that if a

“habeas applicant was afforded a full and fair hearing by the state court resulting in reliable

findings, [the judge] may, and ordinarily should, accept the facts as found in the hearing.”).

Expansion of the Record

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 38 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 39 -

Rule 7 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 Cases authorizes a federal habeas court

to expand the record to include additional material relevant to the petition. Rule 7 provides:

“The materials that may be required include letters predating the filing of the petition,

documents, exhibits, and answers under oath, to written interrogatories propounded by the

judge. Affidavits may also be submitted and considered as part of the record.” Rule 7(b),

Rules Governing § 2254 Cases, 28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254. The purpose of Rule 7 “is to enable

the judge to dispose of some habeas petitions not dismissed on the pleadings, without the

time and expense required for an evidentiary hearing.” Advisory Committee Notes, Rule 7,

28 U.S.C. foll. § 2254; see also Blackledge v. Allison, 431 U.S. 63, 81-82 (1977). Any time

expansion of the record is sought, the Court must assess whether the materials submitted are

relevant to resolution of the petition.

Section 2254(e)(2), as amended by the AEDPA, limits a petitioner’s ability to present

new evidence through a Rule 7 motion to expand the record to the same extent that it limits

the availability of an evidentiary hearing. See Cooper-Smith v. Palmateer, 397 F.3d 1236,

1241 (9th Cir. 2005) (applying § 2254(e)(2) to expansion of the record when intent is to

bolster the merits of a claim with new evidence) (citing Holland v. Jackson, 542 U.S. 649,

652-53 (2004) (per curiam)). Thus, when a petitioner seeks to introduce new affidavits and

other documents never presented in state court, for the purpose of establishing the factual

predicate of a claim, he must either demonstrate diligence in developing the factual basis in

state court or satisfy the requirements of § 2254(e)(2)(A) & (B). However, when a petitioner

seeks to expand the record for other reasons, such as to cure omissions in the state court

record, see Dobbs v. Zant, 506 U.S. 357, 359 (1993) (per curiam), establish cause and

prejudice, or demonstrate diligence, the strictures of § 2254(e)(2) do not apply. See Boyko

v. Parke, 259 F.3d 781, 790 (7th Cir. 2001).

MERITS ANALYSIS: CLAIMS 9(F), 9(G), 9(H), 9(I), 10(C), 11(A), and 11(C)

Claims 9(F)-(I): Ineffective Assistance of Counsel at Trial 

In support of these trial IAC claims, Petitioner seeks an evidentiary hearing to present

testimony from trial counsel, co-defendant Allison, a Strickland expert, a forensic expert, a

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 39 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 40 -

criminologist, and a police practices expert as well as broad discovery from the Maricopa

County Office of Court Appointed Counsel, the prosecutor, the Sheriff’s office, and others.

(Dkt. 140 at 27-30, 34-36, 44-48, 51-53.) He also seeks to expand the record with various

documents such as counsel’s billing records. (Id. at 94-97.) However, as discussed next,

Petitioner’s lack of diligence in developing the facts in state court bars him from further

development of these claims in this Court.

Diligence in State Court

Petitioner contends that in litigating his successive third PCR petition he diligently

attempted to develop Claims 9(F)-(I) but the state court curtailed his efforts by denying

investigative and expert funding and by failing to grant his request for an evidentiary hearing.

(Dkt. 140 at 81-90; Dkt. 153.) Because he was curtailed in state court, Petitioner maintains

that he is entitled to factually develop this and other claims on habeas review. (Id.) 

As previously indicated, under § 2254(e)(2), a federal court is precluded from holding

an evidentiary hearing or expanding the record if the failure to develop a claim’s factual basis

in state court is due to a “lack of diligence, or some greater fault, attributable to the prisoner

or the prisoner’s counsel.” Taylor, 529 U.S. at 432. The federal court’s evaluation of

diligence depends upon “whether the prisoner made a reasonable attempt, in light of the

information available at the time, to investigate and pursue claims in state court.” Id. at 435.

Summary of Arizona’s Successive PCR Rules

A petitioner seeking post-conviction relief in state court has the obligation to bring

any and all known claims in his initial PCR petition. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.4(a) & (c)(1)

(2003). Arizona restricts the filing of a successive petition to certain exceptional claims. See

Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.2(b). These exceptions to preclusion include claims based on newly

discovered evidence, a significant change in the law, and actual innocence of the crime or

of the death penalty. To commence a successive PCR proceeding, a petitioner files a

successive notice of post-conviction relief in the PCR court. In the successive notice, the

petitioner indicates the type of exceptional claim being raised and the meritorious reasons

entitling the claim to go forward for preparation of a petition. If a petitioner’s notice does

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 40 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 41 -

not meet these requirements, the PCR court is required to summarily dismiss the notice,

without preparation of a petition. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.2(b); see State v. Rosales, 205 Ariz.

86, 90, 66 P.3d 1263, 1267 (App. 2003) (If “a trial court is presented with a successive notice

of post-conviction relief in which no claims under Rule 32.1(d) through (h) are articulated,

supported by facts, and excused for being tardily raised, the court could dismiss the entire

proceeding on the notice, implicitly finding that all potential claims are precluded by being

waived in the previous proceeding. Such a ruling would necessarily include potential claims

under Rule 32.1(a) through (c), for which no exception to the preclusion or timeliness rules

exists.”).

Once a prima facie successive claim has been presented and not summarily dismissed

at the notice stage, the claim is to be presented in a successive PCR petition, along with

affidavits, records, and other evidence supporting the claim. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.5.

Following briefing, the PCR court is required to review the petition and then identify and

dismiss any and all claims that are procedurally precluded – i.e., any claim that either should

have been or already has been presented for review. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.2(a)(2) and (a)(3).

After all precluded claims have been dismissed as either previously submitted or waived, the

PCR court reviews the remainder of the claims to determine the existence of any colorable

claim entitling the petitioner to relief. See State v. D’Ambrosio, 156 Ariz. 71, 73, 750 P.2d

14, 16 (1988) (a colorable claim is one in which if the allegations are true, it might have

changed the outcome of the proceeding). For all colorable claims, the court holds an

evidentiary hearing pursuant to Rule 32.8. If there is no colorable claim, the PCR court

summarily dismisses the successive petition with prejudice. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.6(c).

Petitioner’s Third PCR

As previously noted, following the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Ring,

this Court authorized Petitioner to initiate successive state PCR proceedings. To satisfy Rule

32.2(b), Petitioner presented a Ring claim, an exceptional claim based on a significant change

in the law under Rule 32.1(g). Petitioner further indicated that he intended to raise other

exceptional claims in his petition and that meritorious reasons existed for not raising these

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 41 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

18 Rule 32.1(h) defines actual innocence as follows: “The defendant demonstrates

by clear and convincing evidence that the facts underlying the claim would be sufficient to

establish that no reasonable fact-finder would have found defendant guilty beyond a

reasonable doubt, or that the court would not have imposed the death penalty.” Ariz. R. Crim.

P. 32.1(h) (West 2002). In the comment construing the subsection, the Arizona Supreme

Court stated that a claim of actual innocence was added because in Herrera v. Collins, 506

U.S. 390 (1993), the United States Supreme Court ruled that claims of actual innocence were

not cognizable under the federal habeas corpus remedy. Ariz. R. Crim. P. 32.1(h)

(comment). In Herrera, the Supreme Court made clear that “[c]laims of actual innocence

based on newly discovered evidence have never been held to state a ground for federal

habeas relief absent an independent constitutional violation occurring in the underlying state

criminal proceeding.” Id. at 400. 

- 42 -

claims in an earlier PCR petition. (Id. at 4.) In his notice, Petitioner did not include a factual

or legal basis for any proposed claims and did not offer any substantiating reasons why such

potential claims would be entitled to successive petition treatment, in contravention of Rule

32.2(b). (Id. at 4-5.) However, because Petitioner raised a successive Ring claim based on

a significant change in the law, the PCR court appointed counsel and established a deadline

for the filing of a successive petition. (Id. at 8-9, 12-13.) 

In the successive PCR petition, Petitioner raised a Ring claim as well as a number of

other claims this Court had previously found procedurally barred because they had not been

exhausted in state court. (Dkt. 29 at 38-39.) Petitioner asserted in his petition that the claims

were excepted from Rule 32.2 preclusion because they constituted claims of actual innocence

under Rule 32.1(h).18 (Dkt. 116 at 178, 186-87.) Following the filing of his successive

petition, Petitioner indicated that he intended to submit motions for expert assistance and

discovery. (Dkt. 116 at 86.) Prior to summary dismissal of the PCR petition, the record does

not disclose the filing of any such motions.

In response to the petition, Respondents contended that, other than the Ring claim,

Petitioner had not identified any claims that fell within an exception to preclusion and asked

the PCR court for summary dismissal. (Id. at 165-66.) After the response and Petitioner’s

reply, the PCR court scheduled oral argument. (Dkt. 153.) At argument, Petitioner indicated

he had submitted colorable claims of actual innocence and that if the court scheduled an

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 42 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 43 -

evidentiary hearing, he would request the appointment of an investigator and a mental health

expert. (Id. at 13-15.)

Pursuant to Rule 32.2(b), the PCR court concluded that Claims 9(F)-(I) were not

properly brought as actual innocence claims and stated its intention to summarily dismiss

them. (Dkt. 116 at 221-23.) In accordance with Rule 32.6(c), the PCR court identified them

as procedurally precluded. However, in finding the claims procedurally precluded, the PCR

court ambiguously ruled that they were precluded because they either had already been

submitted and ruled upon (under Rule 32.2(a)(2)) or had never before been presented and

were waived (under Rule 32.2(a)(3)). See Lambright v. Stewart, 241 F.3d 1201, 1205 (2001)

(procedural default based on an ambiguous order that does not clearly rest on an independent

and adequate state ground is not sufficient to preclude federal review). As this Court

previously ruled in considering Petitioner’s motion to amend:

If an Arizona state court, pursuant to Rule 32.2(a)(2), precludes further review

of a claim because it has been previously raised and litigated, then such a claim

is exhausted and available for federal habeas review. If the state court,

pursuant to Rule 32.2(a)(3), bars a claim because it could have been raised on

direct appeal or in a previous PCR proceeding but was not, that claim is

waived and procedurally defaulted. However, if the state court does not

distinguish which claims are precluded from further review under (a)(2) and

which claims are precluded as waived under (a)(3), then the decision is

ambiguous and does not clearly and expressly rely on an independent and

adequate state procedural default. See Ceja v. Stewart, 97 F.3d 1246, 1253

(9th Cir. 1996) (reviewing the distinction between Arizona Rule of Criminal

Procedure 32.2(a)(2) and 32.2(a)(3) and concluding that ambiguous decisions

do not foreclose federal habeas review of the claims encompassed in that

ruling).

(Dkt. 133 at 9.) 

Discussion

Petitioner contends that the limitations of § 2254(e)(2) do not apply because the state

court curtailed his effort to develop these claims by denying funding for an expert and an

investigator and by denying an evidentiary hearing during his third PCR proceeding.

However, Petitioner did not formally request resources prior to the PCR court’s

determination that his claims failed to satisfy the actual innocence exception to preclusion.

This failure to request resources does not satisfy the standard requiring that a petitioner

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 43 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 44 -

diligently undertake his own search for evidence. See Williams, 529 U.S. at 435.

More critically, the Arizona courts have made clear that the appropriate time to

present IAC allegations is in the first PCR proceeding. See State v. Spreitz, 202 Ariz. 1, 2,

39 P.3d 525, 526 (2002); Smith v. Stewart, 202 Ariz. 446, 450, 46 P.3d 1067, 1071 (2002).

In Smith, decided before Petitioner filed his third PCR petition, the Arizona Supreme Court

reiterated that petitioners are barred from filing IAC claims in successive PCR petitions: 

Rule 32.2 is a rule of preclusion designed to limit [review of claims in the PCR

court], to prevent endless or nearly endless reviews of the same case in the

same trial court. If the merits were to be examined on each petition, Rule 32.2

would have little preclusive effect and its purpose would be defeated. . . . For

example, if a petitioner asserts ineffective assistance of counsel at sentencing

[in an initial petition], and in a later petition, asserts ineffective assistance of

counsel at trial, preclusion [of the later claim] is required without examining

facts. The ground of ineffective assistance of counsel cannot be raised

repeatedly. 

Id. (emphasis added).

Petitioner did not include the IAC allegations contained in Claims 9(F)-(I) in his initial

PCR petition. Rather, he couched the allegations as actual innocence claims in his third PCR

proceeding. The PCR court rejected this approach, relying in part on the Smith decision. By

not raising all of his IAC claims in his first PCR petition, Petitioner ran the risk of not having

the claims considered on the merits. Indeed, in light of the Arizona Supreme Court’s backto-back decisions in Spreitz and Smith, it was not reasonable for Petitioner to expect that the

PCR court would address Claims 9(F)-(I) on the merits, let alone provide resources for

developing the claims during the third PCR proceeding. Thus, this Court concludes that the

PCR court’s summary rejection of the claims and its denial of an evidentiary hearing did not

curtail Petitioner from diligently developing Claims 9(F)-(I) in state court. It was Petitioner

who curtailed the state court from reviewing the merits of these claims by not presenting and

factually developing them in either his first or second PCR proceeding, during which he

presented other allegations of counsel’s ineffectiveness. 

Pursuant to § 2254(e)(2), Petitioner’s lack of diligence in state court prohibits this

Court from granting further evidentiary development of Claims 9(F)-(I), and he has not

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 44 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

19 Petitioner also alleges that this Court denied him investigative and expert

resources to develop these claims during habeas proceedings and that had he received such

resources he could have more clearly alleged what additional testimony would be offered at

a federal evidentiary hearing. (Dkt. 140 at 28, 35, 45-46, 52.) Petitioner’s allegation is

without merit. The habeas record discloses that Petitioner never requested resources to

factually develop Claim 9. More importantly, as this Court has already pointed out, factual

development during habeas proceedings is constrained by § 2254(e)(2). Thus, even had the

Court provided additional investigative and expert resources to assist in the development of

evidence to support Petitioner’s claims, in light of Petitioner’s lack of diligence in state court,

such evidence could not be considered.

- 45 -

attempted to meet the statute’s exceptions.19 Because Petitioner is not entitled to develop

these claims through expansion of the record or an evidentiary hearing, he has not established

good cause for discovery. See Boyko, 259 F.3d at 792 (discovery should not be allowed to

augment the merits of a claim unless petitioner was diligent under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(2));

Murphy v. Bradshaw, No. C-1-03-053, 2003 WL 23777736, *2 (S.D. Ohio 2003) (“there

cannot be good cause to discover facts which could not be presented because a petition is

barred from an evidentiary hearing on those facts under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(2)”). Therefore,

Petitioner’s requests for discovery, expansion of the record, and an evidentiary hearing for

Claims 9(F)-(I) are denied. This Court’s review of Claims 9(F)-(I) is limited to the factual

record developed in the state court proceedings. See Cardwell v. Netherland, 971 F. Supp.

997, 1008 (E.D. Va. 1997), aff’d, Cardwell v. Greene, 152 F.3d 331 (4th Cir. 1998),

overruled in part on other grounds, Bell v. Jarvis, 236 F.3d 149 (4th Cir. 2000) (en banc).

Claim 9(F)

Petitioner contends that trial counsel rendered deficient performance in failing to

prevent Patrick Allison from testifying to a hearsay statement Petitioner allegedly made to

Julie Moore. At trial, the prosecution questioned Allison, who testified that he overheard

Petitioner tell Julie Moore that “[the victim] wouldn’t give me the money or the beer so I

burned him.” (RT 6/6/90 at 107.) As the Court has previously explained, this out-of-court

statement was not hearsay but the admission of a party opponent. (See Dkt. 133 at 24.)

Because Allison’s statement was admissible under Arizona Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(A),

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 45 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 46 -

counsel’s failure to move for its preclusion was not unreasonable. See Kimmelman v.

Morrison, 477 U.S. 365, 375 (1986) (in order to demonstrate that counsel failed to litigate

an issue competently, a petitioner must prove that the issue was meritorious); Wilson v.

Henry, 185 F.3d at 990 (same). 

Next, Petitioner contends that trial counsel should have tested the admissibility of

Allison’s statements by requesting a preliminary determination of admissibility outside the

presence of the jury under Arizona Rule of Evidence 104. Rule 104 provides for a hearing

outside the presence of the jury to determine the admissibility of testimony. See Ariz. R.

Evid. 104(a) (2002). However, in this matter, counsel did not perform deficiently because

Allison’s statements were properly admitted. Moreover, Rule 104 could not be used to

prohibit the statements from being admitted. Rule 104 makes it clear that such a proceeding

cannot be used to limit or prohibit a party from introducing evidence before the jury that is

relevant to weight or credibility. See id., Rule 104(e); see also State v. Lehr, 201 Ariz. 509,

517, 38 P.3d 1172, 1180 (2002). Allison’s statements were admissible at trial because it was

up to the jury to determine Allison’s credibility and what weight to give his statements.

Finally, Petitioner contends that trial counsel’s cross examination of Allison was

deficient because it is probable that counsel could have impeached Allison with counsel’s

pretrial interview of him which may have indicated that Allison came to know this

information from Julie Moore, not directly from Petitioner. (Dkt. 134 at 64.) Such

speculation is insufficient. See Bragg, 242 F.3d at 1088 (petitioner must do more than

speculate about the testimony of a witness to support deficient performance in an ineffective

assistance claim). In addition, Petitioner has failed to affirmatively establish prejudice under

Strickland. Therefore, he is not entitled to relief on Claim 9(F).

Claim 9(G)

Petitioner contends that trial counsel performed deficiently by not calling Julie Moore

as a witness at trial to rebut Patrick Allison’s testimony that he overheard Petitioner tell

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 46 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

20 Petitioner has informed the Court that Julie Moore is now deceased. (Dkt. 140

at 35.) 

- 47 -

Moore that he had murdered the victim.20 (Dkt. 140 at 31.) Petitioner also contends that trial

counsel performed deficiently by not conducting a competent, recorded pretrial interview of

Moore, despite the fact that Moore was listed as a witness for the prosecution. (Id. at 33-34.)

Petitioner’s record on appeal contains a pretrial summary of witness interviews that

were conducted by Detective Michael Chambers of the Phoenix Police Department as part

of his homicide investigation. (ROA 33; RT 6/6/90 at 179-81.) This summary was compiled

by Alan Simpson, counsel for Patrick Allison, and provided to Petitioner’s trial counsel.

(ROA 33 at 11-12.) Julie Moore, Petitioner’s girlfriend, gave her witness account to the

police as part of their investigation. She informed the police that Petitioner robbed Marcella

Bonita and her friends of about six beers and then left to consume the beers. (Id. at 3-4.)

Later Petitioner determined that he would go back to the group and see if they had any more

money or beer. (Id. at 4.) Although Moore did not witness the confrontation with the victim,

Petitioner later admitted to her that “he poured gasoline on an Indian guy and lit it.” (Id.) 

At trial, counsel’s main defense was misidentification; he attempted to prove that it

was Allison, not Petitioner, who murdered the victim. Given the information trial counsel

had regarding Moore’s statement to the police, trial counsel’s tactical decision not to call

Moore as a witness for Petitioner was not deficient performance in violation of Strickland.

At trial, counsel is given wide discretion with respect to tactical decisions. See United States

v. Ferreira-Alameda, 815 F.2d 1251, 1254 (9th Cir. 1986); United States v. Appoloney, 761

F.2d 520, 525 (9th Cir. 1985). This discretion applies to counsel’s decisions about the

handling of witnesses. See Bragg, 242 F.3d at 1088 (stating that the failure to interview a

witness does not establish ineffective assistance when the person’s account is otherwise fairly

known to defense counsel); Santos, 741 F.2d at 1169 (tactical decision of counsel not to call

a witness not ineffective assistance of counsel); see also United States v. Rice, 449 F.3d 887,

898 (8th Cir. 2006) (stating that trial counsel enjoys a strong presumption that his decisions

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 47 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 48 -

regarding which witnesses to call were reasonable). The Court concludes that counsel was

not ineffective for not calling Moore as a hostile witness, given counsel’s awareness that

hours after the homicide, Moore informed Detective Chambers that Petitioner admitted the

murder to her, confirming that it was not committed by Patrick Allison. See Strickland, 466

U.S. at 689 (stating that defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the

circumstances, the challenged act or omission might be considered sound trial strategy);

Wildman v. Johnson, 261 F.3d 832, 839 (9th Cir. 2001) (same). 

Moreover, even if this Court expanded the record to include trial counsel’s billing

records, the Court’s consideration of this evidence does not change the outcome. (See Dkt.

134, Ex. A.) Counsel’s billing records contain cryptic notes of conversations he had with

both Julie Moore and Detective Chambers. These conversations occurred prior to a pretrial

conference. (See Dkt. 140 at 33.) In counsel’s conversation with Moore, Moore apparently

denied telling Detective Chambers that Petitioner murdered the victim and denied that

Petitioner admitted the murder to her. However, in counsel’s conversation with Detective

Chambers, Chambers apparently confirmed that Moore told Chambers that Petitioner

confessed the murder to her. (Dkt. 134, Ex. A; Dkt. 141 at 20-21.) 

This information does not alter the Court’s conclusion that counsel did not perform

deficiently in making a valid, strategic decision not to call Moore. Other than a cryptic note,

there is no basis to support that Moore would not have been a hostile witness to the defense

case. Even though there is some evidence of a conflicting account, the record demonstrates

that shortly after the incident, Moore implicated Petitioner as the murderer. (ROA 33; RT

6/6/90 at 179-81.) Counsel’s decision not to call Moore as a witness was not unreasonable.

Absent deficient performance, Petitioner cannot establish IAC. Therefore, Petitioner

is not entitled to relief on Claim 9(G).

Claim 9(H)

Petitioner alleges that counsel’s performance with respect to forensic evidence was

ineffective. He contends that trial counsel failed to properly investigate and secure expert

assistance to test the blood evidence. (Dkt. 140 at 36-44.) Petitioner further asserts that trial

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 48 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 49 -

counsel rendered deficient performance in his cross-examination of the prosecution’s expert

because counsel did not attempt to rebut the expert’s conclusion that the absence of gasoline

odor from Petitioner’s clothes was attributable to escaping gas vapors. (Id.) He contends

that an expert should have been hired to opine about how quickly gasoline odors dissipate.

(Id.)

At trial, the prosecution presented testimony from Craig Ballard, a supervisor at the

City of Phoenix Crime Laboratory, with expertise in the areas of blood and alcohol testing.

Mr. Ballard testified that the Phoenix Police Department asked him to analyze blood obtained

from Petitioner, Patrick Allison, and the victim, and to test a blood spot on the pants

Petitioner was wearing at the time of the murder. (RT 6/7/90 at 51-52.) Mr. Ballard ran

different tests on the blood, testing for blood type as well as blood enzyme typing. Based

upon the results of this analysis, Ballard testified that the blood on Petitioner’s pants matched

that of the victim, Bahe. (Id. at 54-55.) On cross-examination, Ballard acknowledged that

he could not conclusively state that the blood on Petitioner’s pants specifically came from

Bahe. (Id. at 59.) On re-direct, Ballard summarized the results of the blood enzyme testing,

explaining that Bahe’s blood and the blood on Petitioner’s pants were a match based on the

tests conducted, but that the results did not conclusively establish that the blood on

Petitioner’s pants was that of Bahe. (Id. at 61-63.) Ballard testified:

MR. LEVY: And finally, with regard to the conclusivity of it, did you

further determine the percentage of your – degree of your conclusivity and the

general population of blood types between Bahe’s blood and the sampling of

the gray pants?

MR BALLARD: Yes, I did.

MR. LEVY: And what was that?

MR. BALLARD: That they both represent about two percent of the

population, that series of blood types, one plus, one minus, the two B’s and the

one and one.

MR. LEVY: Therefore, based thereon, could you state to a reasonable

degree of scientific probability that Bahe’s blood matched the sample on the

gray pants?

MR. BALLARD: I can state it this way: That I could not exclude

Bahe’s blood from contributing to the bloodstain on those gray pants, and he

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 49 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

21 Reaching the issue of prejudice first does not necessarily mean that the Court

believes that counsel rendered deficient performance. Rather, it may have been reasonable

for counsel not to hire an expert unless counsel had sufficient reason to believe that the test

conducted by the state was faulty. In Grigsby v. Blodgett, 130 F.3d 365, (9th Cir. 1997), the

petitioner was involved in an incident where both the victim and the petitioner had been shot.

Petitioner argued that trial counsel should have tested the blood in the carpet around where

the victim was shot because if the blood was tested, it may have exculpated him from being

the one who shot the victim. The court ruled that counsel rendered effective performance in

not testing the blood stain because of counsel’s reasonable fear that the blood test would

show evidence of the petitioner’s blood, as well as the victim’s, and further inculpating him

in the shooting. 

- 50 -

matches those blood types that I’ve done there.

(Id. at 63-64.) Ballard also acknowledged that Allison and Bahe had the same general blood

type but that they had different blood enzyme typing, which distinguished Allison’s blood

from the victim’s and the blood on Petitioner’s pants. (Id. at 59, 63.) 

As previously discussed, Petitioner failed to develop the factual basis of Claim 9(G)

in state court. In Wildman, 261 F.3d at 838, the Ninth Circuit held that a habeas petitioner

has the burden of establishing that trial counsel should have retained a particular expert at

trial and affirmatively demonstrating that he was prejudiced by counsel’s failure to do so.

Because Petitioner made no showing in state court regarding what a blood expert for the

defense would have found, he has not established that counsel’s allegedly deficient

performance had an effect on the outcome of the trial. Strickland specifically instructs

habeas courts that “[i]t is not enough for the defendant to show that the errors had some

conceivable effect on the outcome of the proceeding.” 466 U.S. at 693. Rather, to entitle the

petitioner to relief, any deficiencies in counsel’s performance must be prejudicial to the

defense. Id. at 692. Because Petitioner made no showing of prejudice, the Court need not

evaluate trial counsel’s performance.21 Id. at 697 (stating that “a court need not determine

whether counsel’s performance was deficient before examining the prejudice suffered by the

defendant as a result of the alleged deficiencies.”)

Next, Petitioner argues that trial counsel rendered deficient performance in his crossexamination of Ballard because he did not attempt to rebut Ballard’s conclusion that the

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 50 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 51 -

complete absence of a gasoline odor from Petitioner’s clothes was due to escaping gas

vapors. (Dkt. 140 at 36-44.) Petitioner contends that an expert should have been hired to

opine about the rate at which gasoline odors dissipate. (Id.)

At trial, Mr. Ballard testified about the presence of accelerants, such as gasoline, on

articles of clothing to be tested. (Id. at 52.) With regard to accelerants, Ballard testified that

he undertook a two-step process. First, he checked the article for the odor of gasoline; if

gasoline vapor was detected by odor, he would test the item for the presence of gasoline. (Id.

at 56-57.) The victim’s clothing tested positive for gasoline. (Id. at 57.) On crossexamination, Ballard testified that when he checked Petitioner’s clothes, he did not detect an

odor of gasoline. (Id. at 59-61.)

As previously indicated, Petitioner failed to develop the factual basis of this argument

in state court. Because Petitioner made no showing regarding what findings an expert would

have made regarding the rate at which gasoline odors dissipate from clothing or any findings

arising from the testing of Petitioner’s clothing, he has not established that he was prejudiced

by counsel’s performance. See Wildman, 261 F.3d at 838. 

Finally, Petitioner alleges that counsel rendered deficient performance in his crossexamination of Ballard. Petitioner accuses the prosecution expert of making a mistake

during direct examination when he testified that the group of tests administered on the blood

samples showed that the blood on Petitioner’s pants did not match Allison’s blood.

Petitioner further accuses Ballard of changing his testimony on cross-examination when

Ballard testified that both Allison and Bahe had Type O blood, the same blood type as the

blood on Petitioner’s pants. Petitioner argues that Ballard should have been vigorously

cross-examined about mistakes in his testimony because Ballard, in his final typewritten

report, handwrote a change in the blood type of the sample on Petitioner’s pants, indicating

that the blood on the pants was “Type O.”

 At trial, Ballard explained that he performed a number of tests on the blood samples

that he received in this case. (RT 6/7/90 at 52-56.) The first test was for general ABO blood

type. (Id.) Ballard next tested the samples for blood enzyme type. (Id.) Ballard did not

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 51 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 52 -

testify that the blood on the pants was a different blood type than that of Allison. (Id. at 54-

55.) Rather, Ballard testified, referring to all of the tests administered, that the blood stain

on the pants did not match Allison’s blood sample. (Id.) On cross-examination, trial counsel

clarified Ballard’s testimony, confirming that Allison and Bahe had the same ABO blood

type. (Id. at 59.) With respect to the alleged mistake on Ballard’s report, the report is not

a part of the state court record. More importantly, even if it were a part of the record, the

report merely shows that Ballard took steps to ensure that the report was accurate. (See id.

at 53-56.) Counsel’s cross-examination of Ballard was neither deficient nor prejudicial.

Petitioner is not entitled to relief on Claim 9(H).

Claim 9(I)

Petitioner indicates that the police obtained a blood sample from him shortly after his

arrest. He argues that trial counsel should have tested the sample for alcohol content and that

the failure to do so constituted deficient performance because intoxication played a vital role

in his defense. Petitioner contends that his state of intoxication prevented him from forming

the requisite mental state for first degree murder. (Dkt. 140 at 48-50.) Further, Petitioner

asserts that the failure to test his blood alcohol prejudiced him at sentencing and as a result

he received the death penalty. (Id. at 50.)

On the day of Petitioner’s arrest, Detective Chambers requested and received

Petitioner’s consent to have a blood sample taken. (RT 6/6/07 at 186.) A registered nurse

obtained samples from both Petitioner and Patrick Allison and gave the samples to Detective

Chambers. (RT 6/7/90 at 49-50.)

Petitioner argues that trial counsel should have tested his blood sample for alcohol

content for use during trial and sentencing. (Dkt. 140 at 48-50.) In a prior Order, the Court

addressed a similar allegation. (See Dkt. 133 at 13-15.) Previously, in Claim 1, the Court

considered Petitioner’s allegation that the trial court erred in failing to instruct the jury that

it could not consider his intoxication in determining his mental state at the time of the

murder. The Court ruled as follows:

At the time of Petitioner’s trial, Arizona law only allowed introduction of

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 52 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 53 -

intoxication evidence when specific intent was a necessary element of the

crime charged. See Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 54-55, 859 P.2d at 164-65 (citing

A.R.S. § 13-503, which, in pertinent part, provided that the jury may only

consider voluntary intoxication in determining a culpable mental state when

the culpable mental state of intentionality is a necessary element of the

offense). Under Arizona’s first degree murder statute, the State was required

to prove that Petitioner had either an intentional or knowing mental state that

his conduct will cause death. See A.R.S. § 13-1105(A)(1). Where a defendant

is charged, in part, with knowingly committing first degree murder, a

voluntary intoxication instruction is not permitted. See State v. Rankovich, 159

Ariz. 116, 122, 765 P.2d 518, 524 (1988). In compliance with state law, the

court refused to allow him to introduce intoxication evidence as a defense to

the “knowing” mental state and refused to give a jury instruction indicating

that voluntary intoxication was a defense to the first degree murder charge.

(Id. at 13-14 (footnotes excluded)). Ultimately, this Court held that the state court did not

violate the Constitution by not giving a jury instruction which would have allowed the jury

to consider Petitioner’s intoxication in determining his mental state at the time of the crime.

(Id. at 15.)

Although Petitioner contends that his intoxication played a pivotal role in his defense,

the trial court excluded evidence of intoxication regarding Petitioner’s mental state at the

time of the crime. Therefore, trial counsel did not perform deficiently in failing to have

Petitioner’s blood tested for intoxication for use during the guilt phase of his trial.

Next, Petitioner contends that counsel’s failure to obtain the blood alcohol test results

prejudiced him at sentencing. (Id. at 50.) At sentencing, the state courts thoroughly

considered Petitioner’s intoxication at the time of the crime. In a previous Order, this Court

reviewed the state court’s consideration of whether Petitioner’s intoxication evidence

constituted either a statutory or a non-statutory mitigating circumstance at sentencing. (Dkt.

133 at 19-23.) 

Trial counsel presented Petitioner’s intoxication at sentencing. He presented it in a

sentencing memorandum to the trial court and also through the report of the mitigation

psychologist, Dr. Donald Tatro, which was attached to the sentencing memorandum. (ROA

134 at 8-11; Tatro Report at 1-2.) Trial counsel did not perform deficiently in failing to

obtain any additional cumulative evidence of intoxication for use at sentencing. Petitioner

is not entitled to relief for Claim 9(I).

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 53 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 54 -

Claims 10(C), 11(A), 11(C): Ineffective Assistance of Counsel at Sentencing

In support of these sentencing IAC claims, Petitioner seeks broad discovery and an

evidentiary hearing to present testimony from trial counsel, family members, a mitigation

specialist, an addiction specialist, a cultural expert, a Strickland expert, and others. (Dkt. 140

at 58-60, 74-77, 80-81.) He also seeks to expand the record with numerous mitigationrelated declarations and records and requests discovery from the Arizona Supreme Court on

the question of whether it would have reduced his sentence to life imprisonment had it been

provided a “competent” mental health report. (Id. at 94-97, 80-81.) 

Diligence in State Court

Petitioner contends that in litigating his successive third PCR petition he diligently

attempted to develop Claims 10(C), 11(A), and 11(C) but the state court curtailed his efforts

by denying investigative and expert funding and by failing to grant his request for an

evidentiary hearing. (Dkt. 140 at 81-90; Dkt. 153.)

In his third PCR proceeding, Petitioner proffered the following documents in support

of his IAC-sentencing claims: Declaration of Arlene Schurz (Petitioner’s mother),

Declaration of Sharon Apkaw (Petitioner’s aunt), Declaration of Joycelyn Martinez

(Petitioner’s cousin), Declaration of Sister Mary Martha Carpenter (one of Petitioner’s

elementary school teachers), medical records from 1964 to 1975, a 1977 Camelback Hospital

Discharge Summary, a 1978 New Foundation Treatment Summary and Review, a 1979

Adobe Mountain Psychological Evaluation, and a 1990 psychological evaluation from Dr.

Jack Potts. (Dkt. 116 at 90-159.) Because these items were attached to Petitioner’s third

PCR petition, they are already part of the relevant state court record and expansion of the

record to include these items is unnecessary.

Regarding the new exhibits Petitioner seeks to introduce through expansion of the

record, including Trial Counsel’s Billing Records, the Affidavit of Mary Durand, the

Declaration of David Hedgecock, the Declaration of Michael Todd, the Death Certificates

of Petitioner’s Family Members, and the Letter to Arlene Schurz, the Court concludes that

Petitioner failed to exercise diligence. (See Dkt. 134, Exs. A, B, Q, R, S; Dkt. 140, Ex. 3.)

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 54 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

22 Petitioner again alleges that this Court’s denial of investigative and expert

resources inhibited his ability to clearly identify additional testimony necessary for a federal

evidentiary hearing. (Dkt. 140 at 59, 77, 81; see Dkt. 78.) However, as already explained,

factual development is necessarily constrained by § 2254(e)(2). See supra note 19. In its

September 2005 order denying Petitioner’s request for an evidentiary development, the Court

thoroughly reviewed Petitioner’s attempts to develop his sentencing IAC claims in state court

and determined that he had failed to exercise diligence. (Dkt. 128 at 8-19.) Thus, even had

the Court allowed the requested resources, any new evidence could not be considered.

- 55 -

These items were readily available to Petitioner at the time of his third PCR proceeding, but

he did not provide them to the state court. Cf. Landrigan v. Schriro, 441 F.3d 638, 643 (9th

Cir.) (en banc), overruled on other grounds, 127 S. Ct. 1933 (2007) (finding Arizona

petitioner diligent in factually developing claim in state court where various declarations of

available witnesses and relevant documentary evidence were attached to state PCR petition).

In addition, Petitioner presented the crux of Claim 11(A) in his second PCR petition but

offers no explanation why this additional evidence was not available and presented to the

PCR court at that time. As this Court has previously determined, Petitioner did not diligently

attempt to develop the factual basis of Claims 10(C) or 11(A) in his second PCR proceeding.

(See Dkt. 128.) Consequently, Petitioner’s earlier motion for evidentiary development of

these claims was denied. (Id.)

More critically, as explained with regard to Claims 9(F)-(I), Petitioner’s failure to

develop these claims during his first or second PCR proceeding negates any assertion that

he should be found diligent based on his efforts during the third PCR proceeding. As already

noted, Arizona’s rules and precedent at the time of Petitioner’s third PCR proceeding dictated

that IAC claims raised in a successive PCR petition be dismissed summarily without

examination of the facts. Smith, 202 Ariz. at 450, 46 P.3d 1067 at 1071. Thus, such a claim

would not likely be heard on the merits. This Court concludes that Petitioner did not act with

diligence in developing the facts supporting his IAC sentencing claims.22 Id. Therefore,

Petitioner’s requests for an evidentiary hearing and expansion of the record are denied.

Because Petitioner is not entitled to develop these claims, he has not established good cause

for discovery. Boyko, 259 F.3d at 792.

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 55 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 56 -

Claim 10(C)

Petitioner contends that if trial counsel had provided his mental health expert, Dr.

Tatro, with additional mitigation materials, Dr. Tatro would have reached different

conclusions in the report that he submitted to the trial judge prior to sentencing. (Dkt. 140

at 53-58.) Specifically, Petitioner contends that if Dr. Tatro had been properly prepared, he

may have concluded that Petitioner suffered from organic brain damage or mental

retardation. (Dkt. 144 at 44.)

Standard of review

Respondents contend that Claim 10(C) is not a separate claim but is subsumed by the

IAC allegations in Claim 11(A). (Dkt. 141 at 31-32.) According to Respondents, because

this claim is encompassed by Claim 11(A), the state court ruling is entitled to deference

under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1). (Id.) Respondents are incorrect; Claim 10(C) is not subsumed

under Claim 11(A). In his amended petition, Petitioner raised Claim 10(C) as a separate IAC

claim (Dkt. 14 at 64-65). See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 690 (stating that an IAC claim is a

claim which identifies a particular act or omission of counsel alleged not to have been the

result of reasonable professional judgment). 

Petitioner did not exhaust Claim 10(C) in either his first or second PCR.

Consequently, this Court found it procedurally defaulted. (See Dkt. 29 at 39-41). Petitioner

did not raise this claim until his third PCR petition. (Dkt. 116 at 59-61.) The state court

ruling dismissing this claim did not provide a merits rationale. (See Dkt. 133 at 9-10.)

Therefore, Claim 10(C) will be reviewed de novo by this Court. See Pirtle, 313 F.3d at 1167.

The Strickland Standard

The right to effective assistance of counsel applies not just to the guilt phase, but

“with equal force at the penalty phase of a bifurcated capital trial.” Silva v. Woodford, 279

F.3d 825, 836 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Clabourne v. Lewis, 64 F.3d 1373, 1378 (9th Cir.

1995)). Counsel has “a duty to make reasonable investigations or to make a reasonable

decision that makes particular investigations unnecessary,” and “a particular decision not to

investigate must be directly assessed for reasonableness in all the circumstances, applying

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 56 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 57 -

a heavy measure of deference to counsel’s judgments.” Hayes v. Woodford, 301 F.3d 1054,

1066 (9th Cir. 2002) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at 691). A reasonable mitigation

investigation must involve not only the search for good character evidence but also evidence

that may demonstrate that the criminal act was attributable to a disadvantaged background

or to emotional and mental problems. Boyde v. California, 494 U.S. 370, 382 (1990). 

With respect to Strickland’s prejudice prong, “the question is whether there is a

reasonable probability that, absent the errors, the sentencer . . . would have concluded that

the balance of aggravating and mitigating circumstances did not warrant death.” Strickland,

466 U.S. at 695. In evaluating prejudice, the Court explained in Wiggins v. Smith, 539 U.S.

510, 534 (2003), that “we reweigh the evidence in aggravation against the totality of

available mitigating evidence.” The “totality of the available evidence” includes “both that

adduced at trial, and the evidence adduced in the habeas proceeding.” See Wiggins, 539 U.S.

at 536 (quoting Williams, 529 U.S. at 397-98); Smith (Bernard) v. Stewart, 140 F.3d 1263,

1270 (9th Cir. 1998) (“We are asked to imagine what the effect might have been upon a

sentencing judge, who was following the law, especially one who had heard the testimony

at trial. Mitigating evidence might well have one effect on the sentencing judge, without

having the same effect on a different judicial officer.”).

Discussion

Petitioner alleges that counsel did not properly prepare Dr. Tatro for the penalty phase

proceeding and that if Dr. Tatro had been provided with the necessary background

information he might have concluded that Petitioner had organic brain damage or mental

retardation. (Dkt. 144 at 44.)

The Ninth Circuit has stated that counsel at sentencing have an “obligation to conduct

an investigation which will allow a determination of what sort of experts to consult. Once

that determination has been made, counsel must present those experts with information

relevant to the conclusion of the expert.” Caro v. Calderon, 165 F.3d 1223, 1226 (9th Cir.

1999). Petitioner alleges that trial counsel failed to provide Dr. Tatro with the information

necessary for the preparation of a complete mental health report at sentencing. (Dkts. 140

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 57 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 58 -

at 53-55; 144 at 41-45.) Petitioner asserts that an expert opinion should be based primarily

upon “past psychiatric history, family history, criminal activity and medical records.” (Dkt.

140 at 54.) Although Petitioner emphasizes trial counsel’s alleged deficiencies, the Court,

following Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697, finds that this IAC allegation may be appropriately

resolved by consideration of the prejudice prong.

As discussed above, Petitioner failed to exercise diligence to develop the facts of this

claim. None of the exhibits Petitioner attached to his third PCR petition included a

suggestion from a mental health expert that Petitioner may have organic brain damage or

mental retardation. (Dkt. 116 at 89-159.) Consequently, in his merits briefing, Petitioner has

done nothing more than speculate that if additional information had been provided to Dr.

Tatro, he or another mental health expert would have opined that Petitioner had organic brain

damage or mental retardation. (See Dkt. 144 at 44.) Such speculation is insufficient. See

Wildman, 261 F.3d at 839 (prejudice has not been shown when petitioner merely speculates

what an expert might have said if retained); Grisby, 130 F.3d at 373 (same); see also Davis

v. Woodford, 384 F.3d 628, 647 (9th Cir. 2004) (discussing a declaration submitted by a

psychiatrist to establish substantive incompetence at a capital sentencing proceeding and

stating that an expert opining about a petitioner’s incompetency is rank speculation if the

expert does not definitively indicate whether a petitioner was incompetent at the time of

sentencing).

As noted above, in assessing prejudice based on counsel’s deficient performance at

sentencing, the habeas court adds the omitted evidence to the mitigating evidence presented

at sentencing and reweighs the totality of the mitigating evidence against the aggravating

evidence to determine whether the omitted evidence might have influenced the sentencer’s

appraisal of the defendant’s moral culpability. See Williams v. Taylor, 529 U.S. at 397-98.

For instance, in Caro, all of the petitioner’s mental health experts testified at trial that he did

not suffer from a mental impairment severe enough to constitute legal insanity or diminished

capacity. 165 F.3d at 1226. During collateral proceedings, however, additional information

was gathered which showed that Caro was continuously exposed to neurotoxins (pesticides)

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 58 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 59 -

while growing up, and suffered from physical, psychological, and emotional abuse. Id.

Subsequently, Caro was able to establish prejudice because one of his mental health experts

concluded that had he been provided with this new neurotoxin information during trial he

would have changed his opinion and testified that Caro had a diminished mental capacity,

which was an available trial defense in California. Id.

In contrast to Caro, Petitioner did not develop and support Claim 10(C) with new

mitigating evidence in the form of a medical report diagnosing him with brain damage or

mental retardation. Rather, both in state court and here, Petitioner provided only bare

allegations that he suffers from these conditions. See supra note 22. Absent proof of

prejudice, Petitioner cannot establish ineffective assistance of counsel. Consequently, Claim

10(C) is without merit.

Claim 11(A)

Petitioner argues that trial counsel performed ineffectively at sentencing because he

did not adequately investigate and present available mitigation evidence. (Dkt. 140 at 60-

77.) He contends that if the additional mitigation he presented during his third PCR

proceeding had been offered at sentencing, he would not have been sentenced to death. (Id.)

He further asserts that Claim 11(A) should be reviewed de novo. 

Respondents contend that the state court ruled on this claim in the second PCR

proceeding and that its ruling is entitled to deference under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1). (Dkt.

141 at 40.) Respondents are correct that the PCR court ruled on the substance of this claim

as it was presented in the second PCR petition. (ROA 200.) Therefore, this Court will first

address whether the state court’s ruling on this aspect of Claim 11(A) was contrary to or an

unreasonable application of Strickland. However, during his third PCR proceeding,

Petitioner further developed the factual basis of the claim. (Dkt. 116 at 49-59.) Because the

state court summarily dismissed Petitioner’s revised claim, it did not address the impact of

the new evidence appended to the third PCR petition. Consequently, this aspect of the claim

must be reviewed de novo by this Court. See Pirtle, 313 F.3d at 1167. This unusual two-tier

review of Claim 11(A) is necessitated, in part, by the irregular manner in which Petitioner

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 59 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 60 -

raised this claim in state court.

Second PCR Proceeding

In his second PCR petition, Petitioner argued that trial counsel performed ineffectively

at sentencing by not adequately investigating and presenting available mitigation. (ROA

189.) This Court previously summarized the performance of trial counsel at sentencing:

After Petitioner’s June 11, 1990 conviction, counsel sought and was

granted the appointment of an mental health expert, Dr. Donald Tatro, for

purposes of sentencing. (ROA 116.) On September 17, 1990, counsel

submitted a 33-page memorandum outlining relevant mitigating factors. (ROA

134.) Attached to the memorandum were a 15-page psychological report from

Dr. Tatro; letters from Petitioner’s mother and aunt; copies of Petitioner’s

grade school records, G.E.D. certificate and certificate of completion from a

substance abuse program; letters from family friend, Cecil Rovie, and Sister

Martha Mary Carpenter. 

In counsel’s presentation of relevant mitigation (ROA 134), he first

discussed residual doubt about Petitioner’s level of participation in the crime.

Next, counsel focused on Petitioner’s intoxication at the time of the crime,

arguing that such intoxication rose to a statutory mitigating circumstance.

Petitioner’s alleged intoxication included significant ingestion of alcohol prior

to the crime and an amount of heroin. Counsel argued that Petitioner not only

was intoxicated at the time of the crime but also had a long-term substance

abuse problem with alcoholism. Next, counsel emphasized the dramatic

disparity between co-defendant’s sentence of only probation and Petitioner

being eligible for the death penalty. Next, counsel discussed Petitioner’s

dysfunctional family history. Counsel emphasized that Petitioner grew up in

an environment of alcoholism. Counsel discussed that Petitioner was

surrounded by alcoholic and abusive parents and by other alcoholics visiting

their home. After the father left, Petitioner’s mother displayed little attention

for him, as she tried to support 5 children. At a young age, Petitioner’s mother

consigned him to an institution. Counsel argued that the long-term

institutionalization of Petitioner had an adverse effect upon him and that as a

result of his dysfunctional family history, he developed significant and severe

psychological problems. Next, counsel discussed Petitioner’s potential for

rehabilitation and the love of his family and friends. In support, counsel

attached letters from his mother, his aunt, another family friend and an

elementary school teacher, who all care for Petitioner. Finally, counsel

reiterated the early offer of a plea-bargain in this case for a life sentence. 

Dr. Tatro’s report substantiated Petitioner’s mental health problems,

concluding that he had a mixed personality disorder with passive-aggressive,

avoidant and antisocial features. (ROA 134, Ex. A at 15.) Dr. Tatro discussed

Petitioner’s long-term substance abuse problem, concluding that Petitioner had

a heroin (opiate) dependance and alcoholism. Dr. Tatro also recounted

Petitioner’s dysfunctional family history growing up on the Pima Indian

Reservation in an environment of alcoholic and abusive parents. Petitioner

started drinking alcohol and abusing drugs at an early age after his

grandmother died. Such drug abuse included IV use of heroin. Dr. Tatro

detailed Petitioner’s contacts with institutions, with Petitioner first being

institutionalized at the age of 12 for substance abuse. Petitioner’s contact with

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 60 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 61 -

institutions included substance abuse treatment centers, juvenile institutions,

and after turning 18, prison. Dr. Tatro concluded that such long-term

institutionalization had an adverse effect upon Petitioner.

At the presentence hearing, both Sister Martha Mary Carpenter and

Petitioner’s aunt, Sharon Apkaw, testified as character witnesses for Petitioner.

(RT 9/19/90.) Following their presentation, Petitioner issued a short

allocution, declaring his innocence. (Id.) Additionally, the sentencing court

was aware of a March 1990 report from Dr. Jack Potts, who performed a prescreening evaluation pursuant to Ariz. R. Crim. P. 11 in order to determine

Petitioner’s competency to stand trial. (ROA 44.) Dr. Potts determined that

Petitioner was competent to stand trial. (Id.) In statements to Dr. Potts,

Petitioner self-reported using intravenous heroin and drinking alcohol at the

time of the crime and relayed that a prior head injury still bothered him. (Id.)

See also Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 53, 859 P.2d at 163.

(Dkt. 128 at 9-11.)

In his second PCR petition, Petitioner alleged that counsel should have investigated

and presented the following areas of mitigation: possible fetal alcohol syndrome; a history

of alcoholism among family members, including his mother, father, grandfather,

grandmother, and aunts and uncles; serious and ongoing parental neglect; physical abuse;

possible sexual abuse by a priest; serious head injury at age ten; chronic alcohol and

substance abuse, including heroin and intravenous drug use and the fact that he began

drinking alcohol at age eight; treatment at Camelback Hospital at the age of fourteen or

fifteen; long term institutionalization during his formative childhood years; assignment to a

drug rehabilitation program; and a dysfunctional family background. (ROA 189 at 11-13.)

Attached to the second PCR petition was an affidavit by Mitigation Specialist Mary Durand,

who averred that she had “read the petition for Post Conviction relief and the factual

statements alleged therein can all be supported by my investigation.” (Id., Durand Aff. at ¶

6.) However, other than this affidavit, counsel did not present evidence in support of this

claim.

The PCR Court denied the ineffective assistance of counsel claim as follows:

The petition appears to allege that trial counsel was ineffective in his

investigation and presentation of mitigating evidence at the time of the

sentencing hearing. The Court notes that in this case trial counsel furnished

the Court with a 32-page sentencing memorandum, a 15-page psychological

report from a psychologist selected by the defense, called five witnesses to

testify at the sentencing hearing which took approximately two hours,

furnished the Court with a letter from petitioner’s mother, a G.E.D. certificate

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 61 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 62 -

of petitioner, a Certificate of Completion of Substance Abuse Treatment

relative to petitioner, a letter from petitioner’s aunt (who also testified), and a

letter from a family friend with respect to petitioner. 

* * *

Petitioner’s argument seems to be that trial counsel did not “go far

enough” in this pre-sentence investigation. However, in reading the petition

and the accompanying documents, it appears as though the same type of

information and evidence which trial counsel presented to the Court is what

petitioner suggests should be re-presented to the Court at a new sentencing

hearing based upon ineffective assistance of counsel. The Court is unable to

find a specific reference to anything which petitioner contends trial counsel

should have discovered but did not discover because of some sort of deficient

conduct. With respect to this issue, this Court is of the opinion and finds that

trial counsel was not ineffective with respect to his investigation and

presentation of mitigating evidence at the time of the sentencing hearing in this

case. Rather, it appears that counsel performed in an above average fashion

by marshaling the evidence and information which was presented. Therefore,

petitioner is not entitled to relief upon this basis. 

(ROA 200) (emphasis added.)

Under the deferential standards set forth in the AEDPA, the Supreme Court has

indicated that for an IAC claim to succeed, 

[petitioner] must do more than show that he would have satisfied Strickland’s

test if his claim were being analyzed in the first instance, because under §

2254(d)(1), it is not enough to convince a federal habeas court that, in its

independent judgment, the state-court decision applied Strickland incorrectly.

Rather, he must show that [the state court] applied Strickland to the facts of his

case in an objectively unreasonable manner. 

Bell v. Cone, 535 at 698-99 (citation omitted). Thus, at issue is whether the decision of the

state court is contrary to or an unreasonable application of Strickland.

As the sentencing record details, trial counsel presented the following areas of

mitigation at sentencing: extensive alcoholism in Petitioner’s family background, afflicting

his mother and father and extended family; serious and ongoing neglect from his mother and

father; physical abuse by his mother; loss of loved ones; a history of alcohol and substance

abuse (including heroin and intravenous drug use), starting with drinking at age ten; longterm institutionalization during his formative years, between the ages of eleven and twentyone; assignment to a drug rehabilitation program; dysfunctional family background; a

psychological evaluation diagnosing Petitioner with mixed personality disorder with

passive/aggressive, avoidant, and antisocial features, alcohol and opiate dependence, and

mixed substance abuse. (See ROA 134, Sentencing Memorandum and accompanying

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 62 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 63 -

psychological evaluation.) 

During the second PCR proceeding, Petitioner argued that additional areas of

mitigation should have been presented by trial counsel at sentencing. This information

included possible fetal alcohol syndrome, possible sexual abuse by a priest, a serious head

injury at age ten, and treatment at Camelback Hospital at the age of fourteen or fifteen.

However, other than raising these alleged investigative deficiencies, Petitioner did not submit

any proof of prejudice. Rather, Petitioner argued: “We are asking the Court to hold that this

impairment and [Petitioner’s] difficult background are mitigating circumstances which

outweigh the single aggravating circumstance found by the Court.” (ROA 189.) 

Even were the Court to assume that trial counsel’s performance was deficient for

failing to investigate and present this alleged additional mitigation during sentencing,

Petitioner has not affirmatively proven prejudice. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693. During

his second PCR proceeding, Petitioner failed to substantiate and support his allegations of

fetal alcohol syndrome, head injury, sexual abuse by a priest, or treatment at Camelback

Hospital. (See ROA 189.) His speculative allegations are insufficient to establish prejudice.

See Wildman, 261 F.3d at 839. Absent proof of additional significant mitigation evidence,

the PCR court reasonably concluded that Petitioner did not establish IAC of trial counsel at

sentencing. Id. Moreover, the judge who presided over the trial, Judge Seidel, also presided

over the second PCR proceeding. (ROA 200.) Consequently, the judge was already familiar

with the trial record and the mitigating evidence which was presented at trial and sentencing.

The judge’s familiarity with the trial and sentencing record provides an additional reason to

extend deference to the PCR court’s ruling. See Smith, 140 F.3d at 1271 (stating that when

the judge who presided at the post-conviction proceeding also presided at trial and

sentencing, the habeas court should consider giving due deference to the state court decision

based on the state court’s continuing familiarity with the record). In light of the evidence

presented in state court, this Court concludes that the state court’s decision was not contrary

to or an unreasonable application of Strickland, nor based on an unreasonable determination

of the facts.

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 63 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 64 -

Third PCR Proceeding

During his third round of PCR proceedings, Petitioner re-raised Claim 11(A) in his

petition and supported it with additional mitigation evidence, including declarations from

family members and a teacher, a 1979 Adobe Mountain Psychological Evaluation, a 1978

New Foundation Treatment Summary and Review, a 1977 Camelback Hospital Discharge

Summary, childhood medical records, and correspondence from Dr. Potts. (Dkt. 116 at 89-

159.) 

Petitioner alleges that this additional evidence supports his argument that trial

counsel’s mitigation investigation was deficient and that the failure to present this mitigation

evidence prejudiced him at sentencing. Petitioner contends that the following mitigation

allegations should have been presented at sentencing: a genetic predisposition toward

addiction and mental illness; fetal alcohol syndrome; alcohol and drug addiction; loss of

numerous loved ones; mental illness; psychotic episodes; cultural stigma; lack of positive

role models; abject poverty; acute and chronic physical illness; childhood neglect; exposure

to neurotoxins; family violence and crime; verbal, physical, and sexual abuse; intellectual

impairment; negative affect of environment; institutionalization trauma/racism; and deep

religious convictions. (Dkt. 140 at 67-70.)

This Court must evaluate this new mitigation evidence and determine whether trial

counsel’s mitigation efforts constituted ineffective assistance. As noted previously,

Strickland held that “a court need not determine whether counsel’s performance was

deficient before examining the prejudice suffered by the defendant as a result of the alleged

deficiencies.” 466 U.S. at 697. Here, it is appropriate for the Court to first consider the

prejudice prong in evaluating Petitioner’s additional mitigation allegations and supporting

evidence.

As previously discussed, Petitioner failed to fully develop the factual basis of Claim

11(A) in state court. He has presented numerous allegations regarding his mental health, but

none are supported by the opinion of any mental health expert. See supra note 22. These

unsupported allegations do not constitute substantive mitigating mental health evidence. See

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 64 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

23 Regarding Petitioner’s allegation of fetal alcohol syndrome, even though

Petitioner did not present any supporting medical evidence, the Court will consider as

mitigating information the fact that Petitioner’s mother consumed alcohol during her

pregnancy. 

- 65 -

Wildman, 261 F.3d at 838-39 (petitioner had the burden to establish what an expert would

have testified to and absent such evidence his allegations about expert testimony were

speculative and did not establish prejudice). The allegations that Petitioner is genetically

predisposed to addiction, has fetal alcohol syndrome, and was damaged by exposure to

neurotoxins require support from a medical practitioner, yet no supporting mental health

report was submitted.23

Other allegations – that Petitioner was a victim of sexual abuse and that he is a person

of deep religious convictions – could have been supported by information from Petitioner

himself. Petitioner has failed to provide such information. Again, unsupported allegations

do not constitute mitigating evidence. See Schlang v. Heard, 691 F.2d 796, 799 (5th Cir.

1982) (mere conclusory statements do not raise a constitutional issue in a habeas case); cf.

Delo v. Lashley, 507 U.S. 272, 275 (1993) (stating that the Court has never suggested that

the Constitution requires a state trial court to instruct the jury on mitigating circumstances

in the absence of any supporting evidence).

With respect to the remaining allegations, Petitioner contends that they represent new

and additional mitigation evidence, which must be considered by this Court. These

allegations include alcohol and drug addiction, loss of numerous loved ones, mental illness,

a psychotic episode, intellectual impairment, cultural stigma, lack of positive role models,

abject poverty, acute and chronic physical illness, childhood neglect, family violence and

crime, verbal and physical abuse, negative environment, and institutionalization

trauma/racism.

Petitioner unfairly discounts the sentencing record when he argues that all of these

allegations represent mitigation evidence omitted at sentencing. When comparing the

mitigation evidence presented at sentencing with Petitioner’s allegations of new mitigation,

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 65 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 66 -

it is readily apparent that many of the items Petitioner contends are new were in fact

presented at sentencing, including Petitioner’s alcohol and drug addiction (ROA 134 at 8-11,

25-27, Tatro report at 4-8, Sentencing letter of Apkaw, Sentencing letter of Rovie), loss of

loved ones, lack of positive role models, childhood neglect, verbal and physical abuse,

negative effect of environment, and institutionalization trauma/racism (ROA 134 at 25-27,

Tatro report at 4-8). Therefore, the Court does not consider these items to constitute new

mitigation information. However, Petitioner does submit some new information regarding

his mental health and other areas of mitigation. The Court turns to evaluate this evidence.

Mental Health Evidence

As a young child, Petitioner experienced an episode of hysteria when he had to

undergo a shot in the neck during a hepatitis outbreak. (Dkt. 116 at 91.) The medical staff

had to forcibly bind his arms by wrapping his whole body in a blanket. (Id.) 

At age twelve, Petitioner was committed to the New Foundation Residential

Treatment Center for drug rehabilitation. (ROA 134, Tatro Report at 2.) While at New

Foundation, he ingested some jimson weed during a field trip; he became psychotic and was

taken to Camelback Hospital. (Dkt. 134, Ex. M.) The report summary indicated that

Petitioner was not oriented for time or place or person. (Id.) After twelve hours, Petitioner’s

mental state cleared and he was found to be mentally, neurologically, and physically intact.

(Id.) He was discharged back to New Foundation one day later. (Id.)

During his drug rehabilitation program at New Foundation, counselors apparently

submitted periodic treatment summaries to monitor the progress of the residents. (Dkt. 134,

Ex. L.) In Petitioner’s January 1978 treatment summary, his supervisor noted that, based on

the result of a psychological test (Bender Gestalt), Petitioner had a possible cerebral

dysfunction. (Id.) The supervisor further noted that Petitioner’s problem would be

thoroughly investigated through his education program. (Id.) Other than this one treatment

summary, Petitioner has presented no further evidence of possible cerebral dysfunction.

At the age of fifteen, Petitioner was committed to Adobe Mountain School after being

charged with trespassing and attempting to enter a residence illegally. (Dkt. 134, Ex. K at

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 66 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 67 -

1.) He was intoxicated at the time of the incident. (Id.) Upon commitment, he was given

a psychological evaluation by Dr. Tatro. (Id.) In one of the tests administered by Dr. Tatro,

the Cattell Test of Intelligence, Petitioner scored on the borderline of intellectual functioning.

(Id. at 2.) However, interpreting this result in light of other test results, Dr. Tatro concluded:

“In view of his interview behavior and his performance on other tests of personality, which

also reflected greater intellectual capacity than is indicated by the Cattell score, I would

judge [Petitioner’s] intellectual potential to be within the average range.” (Id.)

Dr. Tatro evaluated the psychological roots of Petitioner’s criminal behavior, which

included armed robbery at the age of thirteen and assault and battery at age fourteen. Based

on personality testing, Dr. Tatro indicated that Petitioner’s socially maladaptive behavior

seemed to have its roots in his family situation, due to the severe rejection he felt from his

parents since he was a young child and his anger and frustration at having been cut off from

his sources of support and affection. (Id. at 1-3.)

In his report Dr. Tatro also indicated that Petitioner had been placed at the New

Foundation residential program in connection with his armed robbery charges. (Id. at 1.)

While at New Foundation, Petitioner was described as manipulative, impulsive, easily

frustrated and angered, prone to fights, and abusive of the rules forbidding the use of drugs

and alcohol. (Id.) When Petitioner absconded from the program, the staff at New

Foundation indicated that they would not consider taking him back. (Id.)

Discussion

The Court must assess prejudice based on the totality of the mitigating information.

See Wiggins, 539 U.S. at 536. To establish prejudice, the additional mitigation evidence

must do more than “barely alter” the sentencing profile already presented to the sentencing

judge. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 699-700. 

The new mental health mitigation information includes a one-day psychotic episode

at the age of fourteen caused by the ingestion of jimson weed. The Court gives little if any

mitigating weight to this incident, which does not appear to have any relevance to

Petitioner’s mental health at the time of the crime. 

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 67 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 68 -

The new mental health information also includes a treatment summary from a drug

and rehabilitation facility indicating that, based on a psychological evaluation, Petitioner may

have had a cerebral dysfunction, as well as a psychological assessment discussing the

possibility that Petitioner may have borderline intellectual functioning. (Dkt. 134, Ex. K, L.)

However, with respect to the former evaluation, it was not followed up with any confirmation

that Petitioner suffers from cerebral dysfunction. Moreover, the latter assessment concluded

that Petitioner was of average intelligence. (Id., Ex. L.) In addition, while the assessment

surmised that Petitioner’s maladaptive behavior may be rooted in the rejection he felt from

his parents, it included no definitive mental health diagnosis and did not indicate that

Petitioner suffered from a major psychological disorder or mental illness. (Id.)

Arizona courts have held that, to be entitled to significant mitigating weight, evidence

of mental illness must indicate something more than a personality disorder but involve a

slow, dull, or brain-damaged defendant whose judgment and rationality were marginal. See,

e.g., Walton v. Arizona, 159 Ariz. 571, 588, 769 P.2d 1017, 1034 (1989). Petitioner’s

mitigation evidence does not approach this standard. Moreover, if Petitioner’s Adobe

Mountain psychological assessment had been introduced at sentencing, it would have opened

the door to information that was harmful to his mitigation case. For example, submission of

the psychological assessment would have enabled the prosecutor to establish that Petitioner

admitted committing the armed robbery and that he did so because “I just wanted to show

my friends how big and bad I was.” (Dkt. 134, Ex. K at 1.) This crime led to his removal

from the family home and placement at New Foundation. (Id.) Also, the assessment detailed

Petitioner’s assault and battery of another resident at New Foundation and discussed the fact

that Petitioner had absconded from New Foundation and would not be welcomed back to the

program. (Id.) Cf. Karis v. Calderon, 283 F.3d 1117, 1136 (9th Cir. 2002) (not IAC for

counsel not to introduce childhood abuse evidence through expert testimony because it would

have opened the door to damaging rebuttal evidence); Ainsworth v. Woodford, 268 F.3d 868,

880 (9th Cir. 2001) (Graber, J., dissenting) (much of the evidence upon which the majority

relied to find IAC prejudice at sentencing – antisocial personality disorder and history of

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 68 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 69 -

drug abuse – presented a double-edged sword, opening the door to harmful rather than

helpful inferences).

The additional mental health mitigation evidence offered by Petitioner does not

establish that he suffers from any mental illness or disorder. Therefore, it fails to alter the

sentencing profile already presented to the sentencing judge. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at

699-700. The new information offered in support of Petitioner’s IAC claim also contrasts

with that in other sentencing-stage IAC cases, where counsel failed to present substantial

mental health evidence. See, e.g., Stankewitz v. Woodford, 365 F.3d 706, 718 (9th Cir. 2004)

(counsel failed to present mental health mitigation that petitioner had significant brain

damage).

Other Mitigation

Petitioner alleges that counsel should have investigated and presented other areas of

mitigation, including cultural stigma, family violence and crime, abject poverty, and acute

and chronic physical illnesses. As with the new mental health information, it is appropriate

for the Court first to consider Strickland’s prejudice prong in evaluating Petitioner’s claim

that counsel performed ineffectively by failing to offer additional mitigation evidence. 

Cultural Stigma

Petitioner indicates that his family refused to seek assistance for mental health

problems out of fear that their Pima Indian community would shun or ridicule them. Both

Petitioner’s mother, Arlene Schurz, and his aunt, Sharon Apkaw, submitted declarations

indicating that in their community there was great reluctance to seek help for mental health

issues. (Dkt. 134, Ex. H, I.) Schurz stated that “[p]eople on the Reservation thought you

would have to be crazy to talk to a mental professional about your mental health, and looked

down on you, like there must be something really wrong with you.” (Id., Ex. H.) Apkaw

agreed with this characterization, stating that “[i]t is common on the Reservation among the

Pima people not to talk about serious problems.” (Id., Ex. I.)

Based on these declarations, Petitioner surmises that some of his relatives may have

been suffering from mental health problems but that such problems remained unknown

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 69 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 70 -

because they did not seek mental health treatment due to cultural stigma. Whether or not this

supposition is accurate, Petitioner has an affirmative burden of proving, through the

introduction of relevant mitigating evidence, that he was prejudiced at sentencing.

Strickland, 466 U.S. at 693. Relevant evidence would include a history of psychiatric

problems within the family. However, mere allegations that particular family members may

have had mental health problems without any supporting evidence is insufficient to establish

prejudice. See Schlang, 691 F.2d at 799.

Family Abuse and Violence

Petitioner has presented additional mitigation regarding his dysfunctional family

history, which includes allegations that his family had a history of ferocious physical fights,

often spurred by alcohol abuse; that his mother was impregnated at age fifteen by her twentynine-year-old cousin, Petitioner’s father; and that his mother drank alcohol while pregnant

with him. 

In her declaration, Petitioner’s mother indicated that when her sister, Eleanor, watched

the children, she would hit them and verbally abuse them. (Dkt. 134, Ex. H.) Mrs. Schurz

acknowledged that she hit Petitioner with a stick at her father’s funeral. (Id.) Sharon Apkaw

stated that Petitioner’s family experienced alcohol abuse, domestic violence, verbal abuse,

infidelity, illness, and poverty. (Id., Ex. I.) She further stated that Petitioner was severely

abused, both physically and psychologically, throughout his childhood. (Id.) Petitioner’s

father, Guy, was a violent man; he beat Petitioner for no reason, sometimes bruising his arms

and back. (Id.) Once he gave Petitioner a black eye and some scrapes on his face. (Id.)

Petitioner witnessed his parents’ fights, both physical and verbal. (Id.) Guy had affairs with

other women, which caused fights with his wife, Arlene. (Id.) Arlene got pregnant when

she was fifteen and Guy was twenty-nine. (Id.) When Petitioner’s grandfather heard about

it, he threatened to file statutory rape charges against Guy. (Id.) Joycelyn Martinez indicated

that Guy punished Petitioner using a belt. (Id., Ex. J.) Petitioner would have to wait until

Guy was done beating him with the belt before he was allowed to move. (Id.) Guy would

call Petitioner dumb and stupid; he treated Petitioner like an outcast. (Id.) Guy was also

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 70 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 71 -

extremely abusive to Petitioner’s mother. (Id.) He would argue with her, slap her, and knock

her down. (Id.)

These witnesses offered other information about Petitioner’s childhood, which the

Court must also consider. Arlene Schurz indicated that her parents were incredibly

supportive of Petitioner, including him as they went about their work and looking after him

while she was at her place of employment. (Id., Ex. H.) Petitioner’s grandmother always

protected him and if someone was hurting him, she would make them stop. (Id.) Petitioner

was proud of all the attention he got from his grandparents. (Id.) At teachers’ meetings at

the elementary school, Mrs. Schurz always had to talk with the teacher about the school

performance of her daughters, Leah and Cheryl, rather than Petitioner, because Petitioner was

doing fine. (Id.) 

Petitioner’s aunt, Sharon Apkaw, also stated that Petitioner’s grandparents treated him

like the son they never had. (Id., Ex. I.) They were his main source of support and

protection until they died. (Id.) Petitioner lived with Apkaw for one year in 1985. (Id.) She

tried to show love and trust to Petitioner. (Id.) Petitioner helped around the house with her

children, who enjoyed having him around. (Id.) Apkaw visited Petitioner and Julie Moore

and their child, Marcus. She stated that she could see that Petitioner loved Julie and Marcus

very much; they nurtured and cared for each other. (Id.) 

Petitioner’s cousin, Joycelyn Martinez, echoed this account of the favorable treatment

Petitioner received from his grandparents, stating that she and Petitioner were their

grandmother’s favorites. (Id., Ex. J.) “We knew that we were the favorites because

whenever another family member was coming after us to hit us, my grandmother would stop

them.” (Id. at 1.) Martinez recalled Petitioner living with her family in the 1980s, stating

that Petitioner was caring and acted as a peacemaker, keeping the brothers from getting into

fights; that he was helpful around the house and helped care for the children; and that he was

funny and very loving. (Id.)

In this Court’s evaluation, it is evident Petitioner’s home environment was

dysfunctional. Growing up, Petitioner had to deal with his family’s alcoholism, verbal and

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 71 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 72 -

physical abuse, which was at times severe, lack of nurturing from his parents, and family

fights and violence. However, the majority of the details of Petitioner’s dysfunctional family

life were discovered and presented to the trial court at sentencing. (ROA 134 and attached

psychological report of Dr. Tatro.) The declarations from Arlene Schurz, Sharon Apkaw,

and Joycelyn Martinez highlight the details concerning the turmoil and abuse Petitioner

experienced, and the extent to which alcoholism affected all of the adults in his immediate

family. (Dkt. 134, Ex. H-J.) Although the declarations provide additional detail, they do not

provide significant mitigating evidence that counsel failed to present at sentencing. Finally,

during his second PCR proceeding, even though Petitioner ultimately did not attempt to

prove that he was suffering from fetal alcohol syndrome, he did submit evidence that his

mother regularly drank alcohol when she was pregnant with Petitioner. (Id., Ex. I.)

Based upon this record, the Court concludes that this case is unlike other cases where

dysfunctional family evidence was not discovered and not presented at sentencing. See, e.g.,

Wiggins, 539 U.S. at 534-36 (counsel’s failure to discover and present significant and

powerful dysfunctional family history prejudiced him at sentencing); Williams, 529 U.S. at

396-98 (same); Frierson v. Woodard, 463 F.3d 982, 993-94 (9th Cir. 2006) (counsel’s failure

to discover and present evidence of multiple brain injuries, organic brain dysfunction,

learning disability, low intelligence, borderline mental retardation, chronic substance abuse,

and an emotional disorder prejudiced him at sentencing). In Petitioner’s case, there is

additional evidence of physical abuse which should have been offered at sentencing, but the

additional evidence does not alter the basic sentencing profile provided to the sentencing

judge. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 699-700.

In Arizona, although dysfunctional family evidence is generally afforded some weight

as mitigation, it is only entitled to significant mitigating effect when there is a showing that

it significantly affected a defendant’s ability to perceive, comprehend, or control his actions.

See State v. Hurles, 185 Ariz. 199, 207, 914 P.2d 1291, 1299 (1996). If the additional

dysfunctional family evidence had been presented, the court would have considered such

information, regardless of whether Petitioner could establish a connection between his

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 72 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 73 -

dysfunctional family background and his crimes. See Tennard v. Dretke, 542 U.S. 274, 287

(2004); Newell, 212 Ariz. at 405, 132 P.3d at 849 (“We do not require a nexus between the

mitigating factors and the crime to be established before we consider the mitigation

evidence.”). However, although a nexus is not required, the sentencing court is “free to

assess how much weight to assign to such evidence.” Ortiz v. Stewart, 149 F.3d 923, 943

(9th Cir. 1998); see also Newell, 212 Ariz. at 405, 133 P.3d at 849 (stating that the failure to

establish a causal connection between the mitigating factor and the crime may be considered

in assessing the quality and strength of the mitigating evidence). Furthermore, Arizona holds

that adult offenders, as opposed to minors, have a greater degree of personal responsibility

for their actions. See State v. Gretzler, 135 Ariz. 42, 58, 659 P.2d 1, 17 (1983). Petitioner

was twenty-six at the time of the murder.

Petitioner has made no showing that his dysfunctional family background had any

effect on his ability to perceive, comprehend, or control his actions at the time of the murder.

Rather, Petitioner indicated to Dr. Tatro that he was aware of what he was doing. (ROA 134,

Tatro Report at 2.) Based on this evidence, the Court concludes that the sentencing court

would have assigned minimal significance to the new declarations providing additional detail

about Petitioner’s dysfunctional family history.

 Poverty

Petitioner indicates that he was forced to live in squalid conditions during his

childhood. Arlene Schurz attested that Petitioner’s family lived in an old military barracks

from a World War II Japanese internment camp; the building had no running water, no inside

toilet, and only a kerosene heater for the seven or eight people living there. (Dkt. 134, Ex.

H.) After the barracks, the family moved to a house obtained through the Pima Tribe’s selfhelp housing program. (Id.) Mrs. Schurz indicated that the family was always very poor;

although she worked, she had to feed everyone the cheapest food she could find. (Id.)

Joycelyn Martinez stated that sometimes when his mother was drinking, Petitioner had to

make his own meal, something like a bologna sandwich. (Id., Ex. J.) 

This specific information was not presented at sentencing. The sentencing court was

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 73 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 74 -

not informed that Petitioner grew up in a Japanese internment barracks or made aware of the

full extent of the poverty he experienced during his childhood. However, as with the

dysfunctional family evidence, Petitioner’s poverty is not entitled to significant weight as

mitigation. See State v. Hampton, 213 Ariz. 167, 186, 140 P.3d 950, 969 (2006)

(“Hampton’s troubled upbringing is entitled to less weight as a mitigating circumstance

because he has not tied it to his murderous behavior” and his age, thirty, lessened the

relevance of his difficult childhood). This Court concludes that the sentencing court would

have assigned minimal significance to Petitioner’s additional information regarding

childhood poverty. 

Physical Illnesses

Petitioner indicates that he suffered from a host of illnesses throughout his childhood.

Arlene Schurz indicated that when Petitioner was a young boy, his sister contracted hepatitis

and the whole family had to be quarantined. (Dkt. 134, Ex. H.) During this period,

Petitioner had regular contact with medical doctors at the Reservation. (Id.) Mrs. Schurz

otherwise indicated that Petitioner “never really had any health problems.” (Id.) Sharon

Apkaw indicated only that Petitioner was overweight as a child. (Id., Ex. I.)

Petitioner also submitted his medical records. (Dkt. 116, Ex. G.) They indicate that

he suffered from a number of illnesses throughout his childhood, including chronic shizella

gastroenteritis, scorpion bites, bloody green stools, anemia, parasitic ringworm, as well as

broken bones, amnesia, and head injury. (Id.) 

As with the other information about Petitioner’s difficult childhood and upbringing,

the Court does not believe that these reports of childhood illness are entitled to any

significant mitigating weight. See Hampton, 213 Ariz. at 186, 140 P.3d at 969. Certainly

Petitioner has not sought to demonstrate that these illnesses had any continuing effect upon

his behavior as an adult. Regarding amnesia and head injury, Petitioner alleges this occurred

when he was riding his bike and was hit by a car. (Dkt. 144 at 54-55.) The medical records

documenting this incident do not discuss any long term effects from Petitioner’s injuries.

(Dkt. 116, Ex. G at 143.) Petitioner has not established any prejudice arising from evidence

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 74 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 75 -

of this incident being omitted at sentencing. 

Cumulative Evaluation of Additional Mitigation Evidence

It remains for the Court to consider cumulatively the mitigation presented at

sentencing together with the new evidence presented in Petitioner’s PCR proceedings and

weigh the totality of the evidence against the evidence submitted in aggravation. In weighing

aggravation and mitigation, Arizona considers the quality and strength, not simply the

number, of aggravating and mitigating factors. See State v. Greene, 192 Ariz. 431, 443, 967

P.2d 106, 118 (1998). In aggravation, the Arizona Supreme Court found that the murder was

especially cruel, heinous, or depraved within the meaning of A.R.S. § 13-703(F)(6). The

(F)(6) circumstance is intended only for murders that were especially horrific and above the

norm of first degree murders. State v. Ortiz, 131 Ariz. 195, 206, 639 P.2d 1020, 1031 (1982).

In State v. Knapp, 114 Ariz. 531, 543, 562 P.2d 704, 716 (1977), the court discussed the

(F)(6) aggravating circumstance in the context of a first degree murder carried out by burning

the victims: “We can hardly think of a more ghastly death than this for anyone. We believe

it falls squarely within the meaning of ‘heinous, cruel or depraved.’” In this case, the

supreme court provided the following analysis of the especially cruel, heinous, or depraved

aggravating circumstance:

Schurz does not challenge the trial court’s finding that the murder was cruel,

heinous or depraved. The cold-blooded burning to death of a person who is

attempting to flee demonstrates the kind of “vile” mind-set that we have

labeled heinous or depraved. The suffering – both mental and physical – of a

person who remains conscious while receiving third and fourth degree burns

over almost 100% of his body more than adequately demonstrates cruelty. See

State v. Gretzler, 135 Ariz. 42, 51-52, 659 P.2d 1, 10-11, cert. denied, 461

U.S. 971, 103 S.Ct. 2444, 77 L.Ed.2d 1327 (1983) (discussing the

requirements of the § 13-703(F)(6) aggravating circumstance). We agree with

the trial court that the evidence proves this aggravating factor beyond a

reasonable doubt. 

Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 56, 859 P.2d at 166.

In mitigation, counsel first argued that Petitioner’s intoxication at the time of the

murder constituted a statutory mitigating circumstance under § 13-703(G)(1), which at the

time of the offense provided:

G. Mitigating Circumstances shall be any factors proffered by the defendant

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 75 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 76 -

or the state which are relevant in determining whether to impose a sentence

less than death, including any aspect of the defendant’s character, propensities

or record and any of the circumstances of the offense, including . . . 1. The

defendant’s capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to

conform his conduct to the requirements of law was significantly impaired, but

not so impaired as to constitute a defense to prosecution.

A.R.S. § 13-703(G)(1) (1990). In support of this factor, counsel argued that Petitioner and

his two companions may have had shared as much as two cases of beer, plus some wine, and

taken a small amount of heroin on the night of the murder. (ROA 134 at 8-11.) Based on

this level of alcohol consumption and drug use, counsel argued that intoxication was a major

contributing cause of Petitioner’s behavior that night. (Id.) Counsel also presented Dr.

Tatro’s report, which indicated that Petitioner was quite intoxicated on the night of the

murder. (ROA 134, Ex. A.) However, based on his interview with and statements made by

Petitioner, Dr. Tatro concluded that:

it does not appear that [Petitioner] was so intoxicated at the time that he did not

know what he was doing or that he was unable to appreciate the wrongfulness

of his actions. . . . Based on his description of events, he had a clear

understanding that murder was being committed, that such behavior was very

wrong in the eyes of the law, and that he and his companions were at risk of

grave punitive consequences. In sum, his defect at the time was not that he did

not know what was going on was wrong, but that he did not feel it was wrong.

(Id. at 14-15.) The Arizona Supreme Court considered but rejected Petitioner’s intoxication

as a statutory mitigating circumstance. Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 56, 859 P.2d at 166. The court

concluded that “we do not find that an uncaring attitude, even though partially caused by

drug use, constitutes an impaired ability to ‘appreciate’ the wrongfulness of one’s conduct.

Nor is there evidence that Schurz’s intoxication deprived him of his ability to control his

conduct.” Id.

Counsel also presented information in support of several non-statutory mitigating

circumstances. He offered information that Petitioner suffered from mixed personality

disorder with passive-aggressive, avoidant, and antisocial features, coupled with opiate and

alcohol dependence and mixed substance abuse. He noted that Petitioner had a history of

contacts with the criminal justice system, some of which resulted in incarceration as a

juvenile and as an adult. Counsel indicated that Petitioner had successfully completed the

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 76 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 77 -

requirements for a GED certificate and a course of study in a substance abuse treatment

program. Counsel further cited as mitigating circumstances the determination of codefendant Allison’s guilt by a plea agreement which contained a stipulated sentence of

probation with no jail and a dismissal of the murder charge; Petitioner’s expression of

remorse; and Petitioner’s difficult family history. (ROA 134; Id. Ex. A.) 

During his state PCR proceedings, Petitioner presented some additional mitigating

evidence regarding his mental health, but failed to establish that he suffered from any specific

mental disease or defect. This Court finds that this “new” evidence was not significant;

rather, it amounted only to additional non-statutory mitigation of de minimis weight. See

State v. Johnson, 212 Ariz. 425, 437, 133 P.3d 735, 747 (2006) (minor mental impairments,

such as personality disorders, carry de minimis mitigating weight); cf. State v. Brookover, 124

Ariz. 38, 42, 601 P.2d 1322, 1326 (1979) (major mental impairments, such as brain damage,

carry a far greater mitigating effect, especially if the impairment is a major contributing cause

to the conduct). Petitioner also presented additional mitigating evidence regarding his

dysfunctional family history and difficult childhood. As with the mental health evidence,

the Court finds that the new information concerning Petitioner’s dysfunctional family and

childhood history was largely cumulative and was not significant mitigation evidence. See

Johnson, 212 Ariz. at 437, 133 P.3d at 747 (dysfunctional family evidence was not

significant mitigating evidence because defendant could not establish a causal relationship

to the crime). 

After considering Petitioner’s additional mitigating evidence, the Court concludes that

such evidence is insufficient to establish that he was prejudiced by counsel’s performance

at sentencing. The crime was brutal – the victim was beaten until he retreated and then

doused with gasoline and set on fire. Petitioner presented some additional dysfunctional

family evidence and some limited mental health evidence. However, none of the mental

health evidence indicates any serious mental health problems. Cumulatively, the additional

mitigating evidence does not alter the sentencing profile already considered by the sentencing

judge. See Strickland, 466 U.S. at 699-700. Moreover, when the sentencing judge was

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 77 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

24 In a previous order of the Court, claims similar in substance to 11(C) were

found procedurally barred. Specifically, in its Order of April 11, 2000, the Court found

barred Petitioner’s claims that trial counsel’s submission of Dr. Tatro’s mitigation report at

sentencing was presumptively prejudicial and that trial counsel was ineffective for submitting

Dr. Tatro’s mitigation report at sentencing. (Dkt. 29 at 39-41.) Additionally, in this Court’s

Order granting amendment of Claim 11(C), the Court noted that these two earlier claims

regarding Dr. Tatro’s report remained procedurally barred. (Dkt. 133 at 26-27.) 

- 78 -

alerted to some of the additional mitigation evidence during the second PCR proceeding, the

court indicated that such evidence was largely cumulative and did not establish either

deficient performance or prejudice (ROA 200). See Smith (Bernard), 140 F.3d at 1270.

After due consideration, this Court concludes that Petitioner has failed to establish that

sentencing counsel’s performance was prejudicial; therefore, he is not entitled to relief on

Claim 11(A).

Claim 11(C)

Petitioner alleges counsel performed ineffectively by submitting Dr. Tatro’s report at

sentencing without putting the report into appropriate context, thereby preventing meaningful

appellate review.24 (Dkt. 140 at 79.) He further contends that Claim 11(C) should be

reviewed on a de novo basis. Respondents argue that Claim 11(C) is subsumed within Claim

11(A), which was presented in the second PCR, and that the PCR court’s ruling is entitled

to deference under 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d)(1). (Dkt. 141 at 47.) However, Claim 11(C) was

presented for the first time in the third PCR petition; it was not subsumed within Claim

11(A). Because the PCR court did not provide a rationale for its decision, Claim 11(C) will

be reviewed de novo by this Court. See Pirtle, 313 F.3d at 1167.

The heart of Petitioner’s claim is the effect of the submission upon the Arizona

Supreme Court based on its discussion of Petitioner’s non-statutory mitigation, in which the

court considered whether such mitigation was sufficiently substantial to warrant leniency.

In reference to Dr. Tatro’s report, the court indicated:

In addition, we do not find, upon review of the record, that the other nonstatutory mitigating factors found by the trial court are entitled to enough

weight to call for leniency in light of the especially cruel or heinous nature of

this murder. Most of the factors come from Dr. Tatro’s report, which paints a

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 78 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 79 -

picture of defendant as a man who, as a result of a less than ideal early family

life and almost constant incarceration between the ages of 12 and 20, has

developed a volatile and violent personality extremely maladapted to living in

society. As tragic as this picture may be, it weighs as much in favor of the

death sentence as against it.

Schurz, 176 Ariz. at 57, 859 P.2d at 167. Petitioner contends that by submitting the report,

trial counsel turned mitigation evidence into aggravating evidence for the state. (Dkt. 140

at 78.)

In Strickland, the Court specifically warned about second-guessing counsel’s

performance after an adverse sentence: “It is all too tempting for a defendant to second-guess

counsel’s assistance after conviction or adverse sentence, and it is all too easy for a court,

examining counsel’s defense after it has proved unsuccessful, to conclude that a particular

act or omission or counsel was unreasonable.” 466 U.S. at 689. The Court indicated that

reviewing courts must “indulge a strong presumption that counsel’s conduct falls within the

wide range of reasonable professional assistance.” Id.

In this case, trial counsel’s submission of Dr. Tatro’s report did not prevent

meaningful appellate review. Rather, the Arizona Supreme Court was provided with an

opportunity to consider and give effect to all the mitigation evidence presented and determine

whether such evidence was sufficient to warrant leniency. See Eddings, 455 U.S. at 112

(Eighth Amendment requires consideration of the character and record of the individual

offender and the circumstances of the particular offense). The court’s adverse conclusion at

sentencing does not mean that Petitioner was denied meaningful appellate review by

counsel’s submission of the report. Rather, counsel presented the mitigation evidence to the

court and the court considered it in accordance with the Eighth Amendment.

In the context of a death sentence, meaningful appellate review generally refers to a

challenge regarding a state court’s appellate review and whether such review is arbitrary and

capricious in violation of the Eighth Amendment. See Proffitt v. Florida, 428 U.S. 242, 258-

59 (1976) (discussing meaningful appellate review and stating that Florida has undertaken

responsibly to perform its function of death sentence review with a maximum of rationality

and consistency). At the time of Petitioner’s sentencing, the Arizona Supreme Court

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 79 of 80
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

- 80 -

independently examined whether a sentence of death had been imposed under the influence

of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factors. See State v. Richmond, 114 Ariz. 186,

196, 560 P.2d 41, 51 (1976). Such independent examination encompassed review of

aggravating and mitigating circumstances found by the trial court to ensure that the capital

sentence has been properly imposed. See State v. Brewer, 170 Ariz. 486, 493-94, 826 P.2d

783, 790-91 (1992). Here, the Arizona Supreme Court provided meaningful appellate review

by conducting an independent review of Petitioner’s death sentence and ensuring that the

sentence was not imposed in an arbitrary and capricious manner. See Schurz, 176 Ariz. at

55-57, 859 P.2d at 165-67. Counsel’s submission of Dr. Tatro’s report did not prevent

meaningful appellate review. Therefore, Petitioner is not entitled to relief on Claim 11(C).

CONCLUSION

The Court finds that Petitioner has failed to establish entitlement to habeas relief on

any of his claims. The Court further finds, as set forth above, that Petitioner’s requests for

evidentiary development must be denied. 

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Petitioner’s Second Amended Petition for Writ of

Habeas Corpus (Dkt. 134) is DENIED WITH PREJUDICE. The Clerk of Court shall enter

judgment accordingly.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that the Clerk of Court send a courtesy copy of this

Order to Rachelle M. Resnick, Clerk of the Arizona Supreme Court, 1501 W. Washington,

Phoenix, Arizona 85007-3329.

DATED this 22nd day of September, 2007.

Case 2:97-cv-00580-EHC Document 154 Filed 09/25/07 Page 80 of 80