Title: Fleenor v. State
Citation: 514 N.E.2d 80
Docket Number: 1184 S 458
State: Indiana
Issuer: Indiana Supreme Court
Date: October 13, 1987

514 N.E.2d 80 (1987)
D.H. FLEENOR, Appellant,
v.
STATE of Indiana, Appellee.
No. 1184 S 458.

Supreme Court of Indiana.
October 13, 1987.
*81 Susan K. Carpenter, Public Defender, David P. Freund, Deputy Public Defender, Indianapolis, for appellant.
*82 Linley E. Pearson, Atty. Gen., Louis E. Ransdell, Deputy Atty. Gen., Indianapolis, for appellee.
DeBRULER, Justice.
This is a direct appeal from two convictions for murder, I.C. § 35-42-1-1, and a conviction for burglary, I.C. § 35-43-2-1. A jury returned verdicts of guilty on all counts. The jury also recommended a death sentence. Appellant received a death sentence for the murder. I.C. § 35-50-2-9. There is no record before the court showing that a sentence for burglary was given.
There are twenty-one issues on appeal: (1) whether the right to an impartial jury was denied by the exclusion of prospective jurors who could not conscientiously consider the death penalty; (2) whether several prospective jurors were improperly excluded due to their views on the death penalty; (3) whether the trial court erred in admitting into evidence several State's exhibits which consisted of photographs depicting the victims and the crime scene; (4) whether there is sufficient evidence to support the convictions; (5) whether the trial court erred in refusing the tendered penalty phase Instruction No. 3 and in editing the tendered penalty phase Instruction No. 2; (6) whether the trial court erred in giving penalty phase Instructions No. 4 and No. 12; (7) whether the trial court erred in refusing to admit into evidence appellant's Exhibit B, a report documenting the death penalty positions of various religious organizations; (8) whether the trial court denied him the right to be heard at the sentencing hearing; (9) whether the trial court failed to find, value and weigh all existing mitigating circumstances; (10) whether the death penalty statute has reduced the arbitrary, capricious and random selection of those sentenced to death; (11) whether death by electrocution is cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution; (12) whether the death penalty statute violates Article 1, § 18 of the Indiana Constitution; (13) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional due to the degree of prosecutorial discretion it vests in charging; (14) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not provide for the automatic exclusion of jurors who would always vote for the death penalty in murder cases; (15) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not require the jury to make written findings of fact; (16) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not specifically guide the sentencer's discretion in weighing the aggravating circumstances and the mitigating circumstances; (17) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not require the sentencer to find that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt; (18) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not prescribe specific rules to govern appellate review of death sentences; (19) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not require any comparative proportionality review; (20) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not require a finding of specific intent to kill in order for the death penalty to be imposed when the underlying charge is felony murder; (21) whether the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it permits burglary to be employed as an aggravating circumstance where burglary is also an independent offense.
These are the facts from the record that support the determination of guilt. This series of tragic events involves appellant, D.H. Fleenor, appellant's estranged wife, Sandra Sedam, the wife's mother, Nyla Harlow, and the wife's stepfather, Bill Harlow.
On December 12, 1982, between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., appellant purchased a .22 Colt Peacemaker. During the course of the afternoon, he consumed approximately four beers, and he smoked a marijuana cigarette. He did not appear to be drunk or out of control to his companion.
Between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., Sandra Sedam and Nyla Harlow were Christmas shopping at a department store. At the store, they encountered appellant, and they talked to him for about ten minutes. Appellant *83 was agitated and might have been drinking before this conversation.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., appellant sought out Sandra Sedam at a church service. He behaved properly in the church, he apologized for the earlier meeting, and then he left.
Afterwards, he was given a ride to the area of the Harlow's home, and he entered it.
At 7:30 p.m., Bill Harlow, Nyla Harlow, Sandra Sedam, Sandra's little boy Justin, and Bill Harlow's grandchildren Billy and Angie returned home from church. Bill and Nyla started talking about appellant showing up at the church. At that point, appellant appeared in the hallway, and he shot Bill. He then ordered the two women and the children to sit on the couch. Thereafter, he allowed Nyla to go to her husband Bill, who was on the floor. As she assisted Bill, appellant shot her in the head. He ordered Sandra, Billy and Angie to carry Nyla into the bedroom. Subsequently, appellant, Sandra, Billy, Angie and Justin drove to the home of James Sedam, Sandra's brother. Appellant then ordered Angie to tell James that they were going out of town for a few days. They then returned to the Harlow's home. Bill Harlow was conscious, and he asked about his wife. Bill asked appellant not to leave him there. Appellant then said to Sandra, "You know I have to . . I can't let him suffer any more". Immediately thereafter, appellant shot Bill Harlow again. The next morning, appellant fled to Tennessee with Sandra, Billy, Angie and Justin accompanying him. While in Tennessee, appellant called his mother in Indiana, and he told her that he thought he killed the Harlows. Testimony established that the Harlow's both died from gunshot wounds to the head.
Appellant contends that the trial court denied him a fair trial. Specifically, he argues that the exclusion of jurors who could not conscientiously consider the death penalty created a "conviction prone" jury.
Appellant relies on Grigsby v. Mabry (8th Cir., 1985), 758 F.2d 226, cert. granted sub nom. Lockhart v. McCree (1985), 474 U.S. 816, 106 S. Ct. 59, 88 L. Ed. 2d 48, to support his position. The United States Supreme Court has now ruled against appellant's position. See Lockhart v. McCree (1986), 476 U.S. 162, 106 S. Ct. 1758, 90 L. Ed. 2d 137; see also Burris v. State (1984), Ind., 465 N.E.2d 171.
Lockhart, supra, 106 S. Ct.  at 1770.
Appellant argues that the trial court erred in excluding several prospective jurors for cause due to their opposition to the death penalty.
Daniels v. State (1983), Ind., 453 N.E.2d 160, 166.
Appellant specifically challenges the exclusion of veniremen Yarnell, Adams, and Smith. The kernel of his claim is that each venireman allegedly responded that they could consider the death penalty. Appellant's claim, however, is not sustained when each venireman's testimony is viewed in its entirety.
The pertinent part of Yarnell's testimony is set forth here:
The pertinent part of Adam's testimony is set forth here:
The pertinent part of Smith's testimony is set forth here:
It is clear from the preceding testimony that the trial court properly excluded veniremen Yarnell, Adams, and Smith.
Appellant argues that the trial court erred in admitting State's Exhibits 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 14, and 20. The challenged exhibits consist of photographs of the victims and the crime scene. Appellant timely *85 objected to the admission of each exhibit on the grounds that they were so repetitious, gruesome, and prejudicial as to render the verdict improper.
Wilson v. State (1978), 268 Ind. 112, 374 N.E.2d 45, 48.
The photographs were relevant because they were illustrative of verbal testimony concerning the perpetration of the offense. Furthermore, the photographs of the victim's bodies were not overly gruesome nor repetitious.
Appellant argues that there was insufficient evidence to support his convictions. Specifically, he contends that the State failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he possessed the requisite intent for the offenses.
Smith v. State (1970), 254 Ind. 401, 260 N.E.2d 558.
Here is the evidence most favorable to the verdict. Within two hours prior to the offenses, witnesses Chatham, Griffin, and Albert observed appellant. Chatham testified that appellant did not appear to be intoxicated, that appellant had consumed four beers over several hours, and that appellant's mood appeared to be good. Albert testified that appellant did not appear to be intoxicated.
Appellant purchased a Colt .22 peace-maker within six hours of the offenses. Prior to the offenses, appellant told various people of his intentions to kill someone. In reference to the victims, he said, "If they keep it on, I'm gonna get 'em."
Appellant's actions during the commission of the killings indicated that he possessed a knowing state of mind. He directed that the victim, Nyla Harlow, be carried to the bedroom. This gives rise to the inference that he knew she had been injured or killed. When appellant shot the victim, Bill Harlow, he said that he could not let him suffer any more. This statement gives rise to two inferences: first, that appellant knew he had shot and injured him with the first shot, and second, that appellant intended to kill Harlow with the second shot as an act of some form of perverted mercy killing. Finally, appellant's action in fleeing to Tennessee indicates an awareness and consciousness of guilt.
The preceding evidence also provides an adequate basis for the conclusion that appellant possessed an intent to kill when he broke and entered the Harlow's home.
Appellant argues that the trial court erred in refusing his tendered penalty phase Instruction No. 3 and in editing his tendered penalty phase Instruction No. 2.
Richey v. State (1981), Ind., 426 N.E.2d 389.
Tendered Instruction No. 3 is set forth here:
The trial court gave Final Instruction No. 1 to the jury.
Although the trial court's instruction is not identical to appellant's tendered instruction, it conveys the same basic message; therefore, the trial court did not err in refusing to give his tendered Instruction No. 3 in that the substance of the tendered instruction was covered in Final Instruction No. 1.
Tendered Instruction No. 2 is set forth here:
The trial court gave Final Instruction No. 4 to the jury.
The trial court excised the last sentence from appellant's instruction. It is clear that the excised sentence is merely a restatement of the second sentence in the final instruction, consequently, we discern no harm to appellant.
Appellant argues that the trial court erred in giving Penalty Phase Instructions No. 4 and No. 12.
Daniels v. State (1980), 274 Ind. 29, 408 N.E.2d 1244, 1246.
Instruction No. 4 is set forth here:
Language similar to that contained in this instruction has been approved in the past. Hitch v. State (1972), 259 Ind. 1, 284 N.E.2d 783, Minton v. State (1966), 247 Ind. 307, 214 N.E.2d 380, and Beavers v. State (1957), 236 Ind. 549, 141 N.E.2d 118. Appellant argues that this line of cases is contrary to the plain language of Article I, § 19 of the Indiana Constitution which states, "In all criminal cases whatever, the jury shall have the right to determine the law and the facts." We see no reason to interfere with existing precedent. The trial court did not err in giving Instruction No. 4.
Instruction No. 12 is set forth here:
Appellant argues that this instruction is misleading because it does not inform the jury that the death penalty is only an alternative after certain findings of fact are made. This argument ignores the fact that the trial court instructed the jury that before it could recommend a death sentence it must find that the State has proved the existence of at least one aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt and that the aggravating circumstance must outweigh the mitigating circumstances. The instructions read as a whole are not misleading.
Appellant argues that the trial court erred in excluding his Exhibit B, a report documenting the death penalty positions of various religious organizations.
Appellant offered Exhibit B during the sentencing hearing prior to the jury recommendation. The State objected on the grounds of relevancy. The trial court sustained the objection.
The party who alleges error has the duty to provide a proper record on appeal so that an intelligent review of the issues may be made. See Jaske v. State (1978), 269 Ind. 196, 379 N.E.2d 451, 453. Here, there is no Exhibit B in the record; consequently, appellate review is foreclosed.
Moreover, the trial court allowed into evidence testimony from the challenged exhibit concerning the opposition to the death penalty by virtually every major religious organization in the United States. Consequently, the exclusion of Exhibit B did not prejudice appellant.
Appellant argues that the trial court denied him his right to be heard at the sentencing hearing. Specifically, he contends that the trial court prepared in advance its findings of fact and conclusions of law; consequently, the trial court did not consider the evidence presented at the sentencing hearing.
On December 6, 1983, the jury, after hearing extensive testimony, recommended the death penalty. On December 21, 1983, a pre-sentence report was filed. On January 3, 1984, defense counsel submitted a written statement. On January 4, 1984, the trial court held a sentencing hearing. At the close of this hearing, the trial court read its findings of fact and conclusions of law, sentencing appellant to death. On March 5, 1984, defense counsel filed an uncontroverted affidavit which stated that the trial court's sentencing statement had been prepared in advance of the sentencing hearing.
The fact that the trial court prepared the sentencing statement in advance does not necessarily lead to the inference that the trial court had already reached its final decision. To accept such an inference, without other supporting evidence, would condemn trial judges for being prepared. This we will not do. There is nothing in the record that indicates that the trial court did not reach its final sentencing decision until after it heard all the evidence.
Appellant next complains that his death sentence is arbitrary, capricious, and cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment of the United States constitution, because the sentencing trial court did not find, value, and weigh uncontroverted mitigating circumstances. The focus of this argument is upon the categories enumerated in I.C. § 35-50-2-9(c)(2) and (c)(6), which included the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance, and substantial impairment through mental disease or defect or of intoxication.
The trial court found three aggravating circumstances, namely, an intentional killing in the course of a felony, murder by lying in wait, and conviction of two murders, I.C. § 35-50-2-9(b)(1), (3) and (7); and that they outweigh "any mitigating circumstance".
The court sought to comply with the requirements of the death sentence statute to consider, determine and weigh mitigating circumstances through use of the categories enumerated in the statute, as a check list. The court's negative finding upon each such category did not reach the level of specificity of appellant's argument that the court did not consider certain circumstances such as his history of alcohol abuse, the fact that his stepfather abused him in his formative years, his low intelligence, his low tolerance for stress, and his continuous depression. The court did make general reference to a prior conviction for the felony of attempted battery, to the testimony of psychiatrists and psychologists dealing with impairment due to mental defect or disease or intoxication, and to the various character traits revealed by appellant in his conduct comprising the criminal episodes. The court specifically concluded with the comparative weight noted above.
The Eighth Amendment requires that the sentencer listen to evidence proferred as mitigating with an open mind, recognize all relevant mitigating evidence, and determine the weight thereof. Eddings v. Oklahoma (1982), 455 U.S. 104, 102 S. Ct. 869, 71 L. Ed. 2d 1. The defendant's rights are violated when the sentencer gives no weight to relevant mitigating evidence by excluding such evidence from its consideration.
The approach taken by the trial court here is like the one approved by this court in Schiro v. State (1983), Ind., 451 N.E.2d 1047 where the judge noted each mitigating circumstance from the statute and upon consideration of evidence rejected each. Here, the expert testimony and the inferences from other evidence varied considerably with regard to the level which appellant's mental problems had reached. Appellant's mother testified that he had not been abused as a child by his stepfather, but that he had been belittled, whipped, *89 and there had been much fussing. The evidence showed a turbulent childhood with the use of alcohol and drugs, although appellant did not leave school until his senior year in high school. Appellant had many encounters with the law, most associated with his abuse of substances. One expert held to the opinion that he suffered from a condition of antisocial personality disorder. One psychiatrist testified that appellant had had no psychotic episodes and was not mentally ill in the sense that he was retarded or had an impaired ability to function. Appellant had an I.Q. in the range of 80 to 90, was able to earn a living throughout the years, was able to form relationships although not lasting ones, and was not seriously impaired in his health by his dependence upon substances. He was described as reckless and using poor judgment when under the influence of alcohol. Appellant was also described as belligerent and easily angered while under the influence of alcohol.
The sentencing court noted in its statement that appellant's behavior in committing these two murders was "premeditated, purposeful, and goal oriented." This is a fair assessment even though appellant was undoubtedly under severe stress and some alcohol at the time. We note that he conceived of the plan, announced it to others and very importantly communicated and cooperated with other persons as he approached the event, purchasing the murder weapon and getting rides with others in their cars to accomplish it. He was operating in an environment which required communications with others, reflection, and the operation of the judgmental faculties. There was therefore evidence within that noted in general fashion by the court in its statement that warrants the conclusion that appellant's mental disturbance was not extreme at the time of the murders and that his capacities as identified in the statute were not substantially impaired.
We conclude therefore that the court complied with the mandate of the Eighth Amendment in handling mitigating evidence. The sentencing court's statement, when considered in light of the record as a whole, did not reject evidence of appellant's turbulent childhood and past, his history of substance abuse, and his mental condition, as irrelevant, but did instead consider such evidence to have been of little or no mitigating weight. There is ample support in the record for this evaluation, and while this court would grant these considerations more mitigating weight than did the trial court, we are nevertheless in accord with the ultimate decision reached, namely that the mitigating circumstances are outweighed by the aggravating circumstances. The sentence of death rests upon considerations going to the nature of these offenses and appellant's character. This sentence has not been arrived at arbitrarily or capriciously and is furthermore not manifestly unreasonable.
Appellant argues that his death sentence pursuant to I.C. § 35-50-2-9 violates the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He contends that the statutory scheme delineated in I.C. § 35-50-2-9 and the discretion limiting procedural safeguards contained therein have not reduced the arbitrary, random and capricious selection of those sentenced to death.
This Court has rejected this position. Davis v. State (1985), Ind., 477 N.E.2d 889; Smith v. State (1984), Ind., 465 N.E.2d 1105.
Appellant argues that death by electrocution pursuant to I.C. § 35-38-6-1 violates the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution because it allegedly inflicts unnecessary and wanton pain. Appellant offers no support for this contention. This Court has commented:
Miller v. State (1898), 149 Ind. 607, 618, 49 N.E. 894, 897. Until we are presented with convincing evidence that electrocution inflicts unnecessary and wanton pain, or until *90 the Supreme Court of the United States declares electrocution to be contrary to the Eighth Amendment, we see no reason to adopt appellant's position.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute violates Article 1, Section 18 of the Indiana Constitution which requires our penal code to be founded on the principles of reformation and not on the principles of vindictive justice.
Williams v. State (1982), Ind., 430 N.E.2d 759, 766.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional due to the degree of prosecutorial discretion it vests in charging.
Bieghler v. State (1985), Ind., 481 N.E.2d 78, 94; see also Averhart v. State (1984), Ind., 470 N.E.2d 666, 694.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not provide for the automatic exclusion of prospective jurors who would always vote for the death penalty in murder cases.
Burris v. State (1984), Ind., 465 N.E.2d 171, 180.
In this case, no juror stated that he or she favored the automatic imposition of the death penalty. Therefore, appellant was not prejudiced. Those prospective jurors that state that they will automatically vote for the death penalty, despite the instructions, are eligible for exclusion on the grounds that they cannot follow the law; however, none of the prospective jurors here fell into that category.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not require the jury to make written findings of fact.
Bieghler v. State (1985), Ind., 481 N.E.2d 78, 86.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not specifically guide the sentencer's discretion in weighing the aggravating circumstances and the mitigating circumstances.
Williams v. State (1982), Ind., 430 N.E.2d 759, 765.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not require the sentencer to find that the aggravating circumstances outweigh the mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt.
Daniels v. State (1983), Ind., 453 N.E.2d 160, 171; see also Zant v. Stephens (1983), 462 U.S. 862, 103 S. Ct. 2733, 77 L. Ed. 2d 235.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not prescribe specific rules to govern appellate review of death sentences.
This Court has repeatedly held that the standard rules of appellate review of sentences are adequate to promote the constitutional and statutory mandate that appellate review be meaningful. See Bieghler v. State (1985), Ind., 481 N.E.2d 78; Moore v. State (1985), Ind., 479 N.E.2d 1264.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not require any comparative proportionality review.
The Supreme Court of the United States said in Pulley v. Harris (1984), 465 U.S. 37, 104 S. Ct. 871, 79 L. Ed. 2d 29, that:
Pulley, supra, 104 S. Ct.  at 879.
Nevertheless, the Court has held that "... because of procedure mandated by statute, codified by rules, and controlled by cited precedent, this Court can then meaningfully and systematically review each case in which capital punishment has been chosen, in light of other death penalty cases." Burris v. State (1984), Ind., 465 N.E.2d 171, 191; Judy v. State (1981), 275 Ind. 145, 416 N.E.2d 95, 108.
Appellant argues that the death penalty statute is unconstitutional because it does not require a finding of specific intent to kill in order for the death penalty to be imposed when the underlying charge is felony murder.
Appellant has no standing to raise this issue because he was not convicted of felony murder; he was convicted of murder. Nevertheless, his assertion is false. A finding of an "intentional killing" is required pursuant to I.C. § 35-50-2-9(b)(1).
Appellant argues that the death statute is unconstitutional because it permits burglary to be employed as an aggravating circumstance in a case where burglary is also an independent offense.
He claims that under the felony-murder merger rule, it is unconstitutional to sentence him for burglary and to sentence him to death for murder. First, appellant was not convicted of felony murder; therefore, this situation is not completely analogous to the felony murder merger rule situation.
If there is a double punishment problem in this case, it does not render the death penalty statute unconstitutional. The double punishment problem is resolved by the elimination of the burglary sentence. The trial court did not sentence him on the burglary conviction; consequently, appellant has suffered no harm.
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed in all things; the cause is remanded *93 to the trial court for the purpose of fixing a date for the sentence to be carried out.
SHEPARD, C.J., and GIVAN, PIVARNIK and DICKSON, JJ., concur.