Case Name: Robert SIMON, Jr. v. STATE of Mississippi
Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 1993-09-30
Citations: 633 So. 2d 407
Docket Number: No. 90-KA-0904
Parties: Robert SIMON, Jr. v. STATE of Mississippi.
Judges: DAN M. LEE and PRATHER, P.JJ., and PITTMAN, McRAE, JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr. and SMITH, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 633
Pages: 407–421

Head Matter:
Robert SIMON, Jr. v. STATE of Mississippi.
No. 90-KA-0904.
Supreme Court of Mississippi.
Sept. 30, 1993.
Rehearing Denied March 17, 1994.
Clive A. Stafford Smith, New Orleans, LA, Johnnie E. Walls, Jr., Walls Law Firm, Greenville, for appellant.
Michael C. Moore, Atty. Gen., W. Glenn Watts, Sp. Asst. Atty. Gen., Jackson, for appellee.

Opinion:
HAWKINS, Chief Justice, for the Court:
Robert Simon, Jr., was arrested February 3, 1990, in Clarksdale, and was charged with the February 2 capital murder (committed in the course of arson), sexual battery, and kidnapping of nine-year-old Charlotte Parker of Quitman County. Simon was indicted by a Quitman County grand jury March 12, 1990.
A motion for change of venue was granted on June 5, and the trial was moved to Jones County. A six-day trial was held June 18-23, 1990, with a jury picked from a venire from both the first and second districts of Jones County. Simon was found guilty on all three counts; but, after a separate sentencing hearing, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict as to the imposition of the death penalty.
Simon was sentenced to consecutive terms of life imprisonment, thirty (30) years, and thirty (30) years in the custody of the MDOC.
On appeal, Simon alleges numerous assignments of error, but we find only three merit discussion. Finding no error, we affirm.
FACTS
About 9:15 p.m. on February 2, 1990, Carl Parker, his wife, and their two children re turned to their home on Highway 322 in Quitman County. The Parkers had been attending a service at the Riverside Baptist Church near Marks.
Approximately two hours later, around 11:15 p.m., the Lambert Volunteer Fire Department was called by a neighbor, Billy King, to a fire at the Parker residence. Fireman Jerry Wages noticed the southwest corner of the house was more badly burned than the rest of the house. Wages found the back door unlocked and crawled into the house.
Inside, he found the bodies of Carl Parker and his son, Gregory, bound by the feet, ankles, and wrists. He also found the body of nine-year-old Charlotte Parker. She was undressed from the waist down and had a ribbon tied around her wrist. She also had a wound on her hip. The body of Mrs. Parker was later also found in the house.
The Quitman County sheriff and coroner supervised the removal of the bodies from the burned home. Sheriff Harrison noticed that Carl, Gregory, and Charlotte Parker had all been bound; and Charlotte had been shot in the back.
During the fire department's attempt to put out the fire at the Parker house, one of the Parker's neighbors noticed that Carl Parker's truck was missing. Sheriff Harrison then radioed all officers in the area to be on the lookout for Parker's Chevrolet Silverado truck.
Billy King had also seen two sets of headlights coming down the driveway from the Parker's house while he was calling the fire department. He saw two vehicles turn out of Parker's driveway and head toward Clarks-dale.
Joe McCullough had been going east on Highway 322 about the same time King was reporting the fire. He remembered meeting two vehicles — the first, a Silverado truck— and both vehicles were going very fast toward Clarksdale.
Eddie Lee Spralls was watching television in his Clarksdale home that night. About midnight he heard noises outside, and when he looked out a window, he saw a truck backing between two abandoned houses. He called the Clarksdale police.
Clarksdale police officers arrived at the alley behind Spralls' house and put a spotlight on the truck. Two black males jumped out of the truck and ran toward Highway 61. The two fleeing men had abandoned Parker's truck near the home of Simon's mother-in-law, where Simon's wife was spending the night.
The truck was later identified as being that of Carl Parker, and it was full of furniture and household items from the Parker residence. A pillowcase found near the truck contained two revolvers — one of which had two live shells left in it — as well as other items belonging to the Parkers.
The next day, Coahoma County Sheriff Andrew Thompson, Jr., received a tip from a caller which led him, Bill Ellis and Ken Dickerson, investigators for the Mississippi Highway Patrol, to a dumpster near the house of Simon's mother-in-law in Clarksdale. Dickerson recovered a pair of coveralls and a pair of work gloves from the dumpster. The clothes were wet and smelled of smoke. At trial, Dean Parker (Carl's son and half-brother to Gregory and Charlotte, who no longer lived in Carl's house) said that the gloves were the same type his father used for work.
After pursuing the lead provided by the caller and finding the information reliable, Sheriff Thompson passed information along to Quitman County Sheriff Harrison. Harrison obtained two arrest warrants for Anthony Carr and Simon and took them to the Coahoma County sheriff. Simon and Carr were arrested at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, 1990, in Clarksdale.
Later that day, with the consent of Simon's wife, investigators searched Simon's Memphis apartment. They found a man's and a woman's wedding ring, an antique pocket watch, a pellet gun, a pair of boots, bullets for a rare caliber revolver, a notebook with "Mr. Parker" written on it, and other items. All were identified by either Dean Parker, Carl Parker's older son, or E.C. Parker, Carl's father. The two wedding rings were also identified by a jeweler, who had done work on them, as belonging to the Parkers.
After his arrest on Saturday, Simon was given his Miranda warnings and held in the Clarksdale City jail. On Sunday, February 4, he was moved to the Quitman County jail. On Monday, at about 10:30 a.m., Officer Dickerson read Simon his Miranda rights and Dickerson, Officer Billy Eglis, Deputy Hunter and Sheriff Harrison questioned Simon.
Simon's alleged statement was unrecorded. However, all of the officers present at the questioning testified that Simon said he understood his rights and did not want an attorney. They also said that he waived his right of silence and told them that he had killed the Parkers. When the officers presented Simon with a waiver form, he refused to sign. One of the officers noted on the form, "Understands but prefers not to sign and waives."
Simon later moved to suppress his statements, contending he did not waive his rights voluntarily. At the pre-trial suppression hearing, Simon testified he had requested an attorney when he talked to one of the jailers; however, he could not identify the jailer to whom he made the alleged request. He did admit that he had been read his Miranda rights, both when he was arrested on Saturday and, again, before he talked to the officers on Monday. Simon did not deny making the statement about killing the Parkers to the officers; however, he said he had made it up.
Three inmates of the Quitman County jail testified Simon had made statements to them that he had been involved in the Parker murders, the rape of Charlotte Parker, and in the burning of the Parker house. Simon admitted talking to A.J. Jones, a cellmate; however, Simon denied talking about the Parker case.
Counsel for Simon asked the court to provide adequate funds for a psychologist to evaluate Simon and make a full psychological report to the court. The court granted the defense motion, and the trial judge reserved ruling on the admissibility of the statements by Simon until the psychologist completed his report.
The report of Dr. Kallman, the psychologist hired by the defense, was not available until after the trial had started. However, Dr. Kallman provided a preliminary report to defense counsel the night before the trial started.
The final ruling on Simon's motion to suppress his statements was made after the court had read and considered the report of Dr. Kallman. The trial court ruled Simon's statement to the police officers was freely and voluntarily made and was admissible. The statement was admitted at trial.
Dr. Steve Hayne, a forensic medical specialist, performed an autopsy on Charlotte Parker's body. He found she had been sexually assaulted anally and vaginally, as well as having been shot more than once at close range. The cause of her death, however, was smoke inhalation, rather than the gunshot wounds. One of the bullets was removed from her body and sent to the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory for analysis.
During Simon's trial, the State introduced forensic evidence showing that the handgun found near Parker's truck in Clarksdale was the same gun that had been used to fire the bullet removed from Charlotte Parker's body. Test results also showed the inside front of a pair of Simon's shorts tested positive for the presence of feces.
Deputy Fire Marshall Charles Neal testified the fire in the Parker home had started in the master bedroom. He also stated that, in his opinion, the fire was arson. He noted the melted bedsprings, which indicated a high temperature fire, as well as a metal bucket in the room. No scientific tests to identify an accelerant were performed, however, because of the intense rain that had fallen the night of the fire.
A jury composed of two African-Americans and ten whites, five males and seven females, convicted Simon on all three charges. Simon appeals, with twenty-two as signments of error. Finding no merit to any of the alleged errors, we affirm.
THE LAW
I.BATSON VIOLATION?
In Batson v. Kentucky, the U.S. Supreme Court set forth the rule that a criminal defendant has a right to be tried by a jury selected without regard to race. Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). This Court has held,
It is thus clear under Batson 's express terms that a defendant raising a Batson claim must show
1. That he is a member of a "cognizable racial group";
2. [t]hat the prosecutor has exercised peremptory challenges toward the elimination of veniremen of his race, and
3. [t]hat facts and circumstances infer [sic] that the prosecutor used his peremptory challenges for the purpose of striking minorities.
Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1346, 1349 (Miss.1987), cert. denied, 487 U.S. 1210, 108 S.Ct. 2858, 101 L.Ed.2d 895 (1988).
In Lockett, we also noted "Batson states that 'ordinarily,' a reviewing court should give the trial court 'great deference.' " Id. (quoting from Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 at 98, 106 S.Ct. 1712 at 1724, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 at 89 (1986)). In Lockett we continued,
We today follow the lead of other courts who have considered this issue and hold that a trial judge's factual findings relative to a prosecutor's use of peremptory challenges on minority persons are to be accorded great deference and will not be reversed unless they appear clearly erroneous or against the overwhelming weight of the evidence.
Lockett, 517 So.2d at 1350.
Appendix I to Lockett contained numerous examples of acceptable race-neutral reasons for striking a juror. One example given was "age." Id. at 1356.
During jury selection, Simon made an objection to the prosecutor's use of peremptory challenges, citing Batson. First, the judge noted that Simon, an African-American, was a member of a "cognizable racial group." Second, the trial judge recognized that the prosecutor had used three peremptory challenges to exclude veniremen of Simon's race. And, last, the judge found that the facts and circumstances could indicate the prosecutor was using his peremptories for the purpose of striking minorities, therefore justifying the Batson challenge.
The State's first two peremptory challenges excluding African-Americans were used against jurors who had stated unequivocally they were opposed to the death penalty. The trial judge accepted that as clearly being an acceptable race-neutral reason for their being stricken by the State. Simon does not question the judge's decision in their cases. He challenges only the trial judge's finding of an acceptable race-neutral reason for the prosecutor's use of a peremptory challenge against Juror Larry Prince.
However, regarding Prince, the following exchange took place:
MR. MELLEN (Prosecuting Attorney):
[W]e saw that the defense was striking all the white males, systematically excluding them and did that.... Seeing what they were doing there, then it was a strategy which the State picked up on, having accepted these others anyway by that time, and we then struck Larry Prince, who was 39, and some women which were — which were there. I think that we've got a right to see what is taking place with the defense and their strategy of picking a jury, and we've certainly got a right, and it's articulable to select a cross-section, and that was our intent to do that. Now, Your Hon- or, when we struck these individuals, we came out with 43 as a white male who would be serving on the jury and was not struck, and that's because the defense had then used up all his challenges.
JUDGE PEARSON:
Are you giving that as your reason for having struck Mr. Prince?
MR. MELLEN:
Yes, sir, and that would be Mr. Prince....
JUDGE PEARSON:
. [I]n order to reach Mr. Atwood because of the—there was a strategic move on your part in order to get one white male on the jury; is that correct?
MR. MELLEN:
Or at least to get this white male on the jury because of the strategy, combating the strategy that had been exhibited by the defense, and he was an older man and that's what—(emphasis added)
JUDGE PEARSON:
The court, as far as Mr. Prince is concerned, feels that the State is not— hands are not totally tied to making some decisions as to who they would strike or not strike in order to reach other jurors who they may think would be better or more suitable jurors regardless of the defense's strategy or of the State's desires so long as they are doing it for a strategic purpose in order to obtain the juror that they would—as stated by Mr. Mellen, would be a juror which would be more desirable to the State than the one that they struck.
The trial judge found the State's reason for striking Prince—to get Mr. Atwood, an older man, on the jury—was an acceptable race-neutral reason. This finding is not in violation of Batson.
II. PEREMPTORY CHALLENGES OF WOMEN
There is no merit to Simon's claim that the State was required to give a "gender-neutral" reason for peremptorily challenging women. The Equal Protection Clause does not extend to gender. United States v. Hamilton, 850 F.2d 1038, 1042 (4th Cir.1988). But see United States v. DeGross, 913 F.2d 1417, 1423 (9th Cir.1990). And Batson should not be extended to challenges of gender-based discrimination. United States v. Broussard, 987 F.2d 215 (5th Cir.1993).
Simon cites United States v. DeGross and Powers v. Ohio to support his claim on this point. However, in DeGross the court of appeals forbade the peremptory challenge of an Hispanic woman because of her race—not her gender. DeGross, 913 F.2d 1417 at 1425. And the United States Supreme Court in Powers v. Ohio only forbade unfettered peremptory challenges as to race; gender was neither raised nor discussed. Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 111 S.Ct. 1364, 113 L.Ed.2d 411 (1991). Simon's reliance upon DeGross and Powers is misplaced.
III. IMPROPER CHANGE OF VENUE?
This Court stated, in Johnson v. State, "[t]he accused has a right to a change of venue when it is doubtful that an impartial jury can be obtained; such doubt is implicit when there is present strong public sentiment against the defendant...." Johnson v. State, 476 So.2d 1195, 1210-11 (Miss.1985).
Simon made an appropriate motion to the Circuit Court of Quitman County for a change of venue from that county because of the widespread publicity which attended this case. The motion was granted, and the trial was moved to Jones County.
In his appellate brief, Simon alleged "[a] number of members of the venire stated during voir dire that they had heard about the case, suggesting that a [second] change of venue was required." The record shows, of 257 members of the special venire in Jones County, sixteen (16) had, indeed, read, seen, or heard something about Simon. However, fourteen (14) of those sixteen (16) also said, when specifically questioned by the trial judge, they had no preconceived ideas about the case or the guilt or innocence of Simon. They also said they could consider only such evidence as was presented to them at trial.
The record does not support Simon's contention that another change of venue was warranted on the basis of pre-trial publicity. Only two potential jurors out of a group of 257 persons stated they could not be impartial, and Jones County presented a venue wherein Simon could receive a fair trial. The two jurors who did have preconceived notions about the trial were dismissed for cause.
Also, at trial and in his brief on appeal, Simon objected to the specific venue of Jones County, because the racial makeup of Jones County did not match that of Quitman County.
Simon contended only twenty-one percent (21%) of the registered voters in Jones County were African-American and about fifty-four percent (54%) of the registered voters in Quitman County were African-American. On that basis, Simon requested a second change of venue to a county with a racial population like that of Quitman County.
The Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States provides for a trial by an impartial jury. However, as we noted in Britt v. State,
Although the defendant does have a right to be tried by a jury whose members were selected pursuant to a nondiscriminatory criteria, the Batson Court noted that the Sixth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States has never been held to require that petit juries actually chosen must mirror the community and reflect the various distinctive groups in the populations.
Britt v. State, 520 So.2d 1377, 1379 (Miss.1988).
In Lanier v. State, we outlined the elements that must be shown for a prima facie violation of the fair cross-section requirement for an impartial jury:
1. the group alleged to be excluded is a "distinctive" group in the community;
2. the representation of this group in venires from which juries are selected is not fair and reasonable in relation to the number of such persons in the community; and
3. this under representation is due to systematic exclusion of the group in the jury-selection process. (Emphas'is added.)
Lanier v. State, 533 So.2d 473, 477 (Miss.1988) (quoting from Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357 at 364, 99 S.Ct. 664 at 668, 58 L.Ed.2d 579 at 587 (1979)).
Simon did not present any evidence which would make a prima facie ease that he was denied a trial by an impartial jury representing a fair cross-section of the community. Indeed, no evidence was offered to show the venire did not reflect a fair cross-section of the population of Jones County. Simon's entire argument centered on the difference between the populations of Quitman County and Jones County.
Simon cites no cases that support his contention he was entitled to a second change of venue to a county with a population similar to Quitman County. Indeed, the United States Supreme Court declined to make such a requirement encumbent upon the states in the case of Mallett v. Missouri, 769 S.W.2d 77 (Mo.1989), cert. denied 494 U.S. 1009, 110 S.Ct. 1308, 108 L.Ed.2d 484 (1990).
Mallett, an African-American, was arrested for the murder of a white police officer in Perry County, Missouri, where 1980 census figures showed over 1,100 African-Americans lived. Because of prejudicial pre-trial publicity, Mallett requested a change of venue. Both the State and Mallett offered suggestions for trial, with Mallett specifically expressing the concern that some members of his race reside in whatever county the court chose.
The trial judge moved the trial to Schuyler County — a location suggested by neither the State nor Mallett. According to the 1980 census, of a total of 4,967 persons, three were African-Americans; however, by the time of Mallett's trial, there were no African-Americans living in Schuyler County. Mallett was convicted and sentenced to death by an all-white jury. Mallett appealed, alleging the move to a county with no members of his race violated his constitutional right to a fair trial. The United States Supreme Court declined to accept Mallett's argument and denied certiorari. Mallett, supra.
Simon's motion for a change of venue because of the widespread publicity generated by this case was granted. Nothing in our constitutions, statutes, or case law gives a criminal defendant the right to obtain a venue of his choosing by making repeated motions for a change of venue. The trial judge did not err in overruling Simon's motion for a second change of venue.
CONCLUSION
None of the other assignments of error Simon has proposed warrants discussion by this Court. We find no merit to any of Simon's arguments and hold his convictions for the capital murder, sexual battery and kidnapping of Charlotte Parker should be affirmed.
CONVICTION OF CAPITAL MURDER AND SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT AFFIRMED; CONVICTION OF SEXUAL BATTERY AND SENTENCE OF THIRTY (30) YEARS AFFIRMED; CONVICTION OF KIDNAPPING AND SENTENCE OF THIRTY (30) YEARS AFFIRMED.
DAN M. LEE and PRATHER, P.JJ., and PITTMAN, McRAE, JAMES L. ROBERTS, Jr. and SMITH, JJ., concur.
BANKS, J., dissents with separate written opinion joined by SULLIVAN, J.
. At the time of his arrest, Simon was wearing a pair of boots that were later identified by Scott Parker, another grown son of Carl's. The boots belonged to Scott, who had left them at home when he reported for naval duty in the Pacific.