Opinion ID: 2116540
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 56

Heading: 5.5. Mitigating Circumstance (2)(c)

Text: Under subsection (2)(c), it is a mitigating circumstance when [t]he crime was committed while the offender was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance. Psychologist Dr. Timothy Butler Jeffrey testified at the sentencing hearing that it was probable that Lotter was under extreme emotional distress at the time the crimes were committed. Dr. Paul Fine testified that Lotter has extreme mental and emotional disturbance anytime that he was stressed and that the crime was committed while the offender was under the influence of extreme mental and emotional disturbance. Both experts' testimony was apparently based upon their conclusion that Lotter is a person who suffers from an extreme mental and emotional disturbance anytime he is put in a stressful situation or even if he is merely intoxicated. Thus, the expert testimony indicates that although Lotter may have been under extreme mental and emotional disturbance at the time the crimes were committed, his extreme mental and emotional disturbance was the result of a mental illness or mental defect, which falls within the broader purview of mitigating circumstance (2)(g). This assignment of error is without merit.