Opinion ID: 1252842
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Disparate sentence imposed on a codefendant

Text: ¶ 31 Defendant argues that although this argument was raised and rejected in White I, new facts support its reassertion, including Hammond's testimony (and the testimony of one of Susan's own lawyers) that Susan Johnson was the mastermind of the killing and defendant was her dupe. ¶ 32 Unexplained disparity between the sentences of a defendant and codefendant may be a mitigating factor in a capital case. See State v. Hyde, 186 Ariz. 252, 283, 921 P.2d 655, 686 (1996); State v. Stokley, 182 Ariz. 505, 523, 898 P.2d 454, 472 (1995); State v. Schurz, 176 Ariz. 46, 57, 859 P.2d 156, 167 (1993). Where the defendant commits the killing, i.e., actually pulls the trigger, the disparity in sentences as between coconspirators is explained. See State v. Mann, 188 Ariz. 220, 230, 934 P.2d 784, 794 (1997); State v. (Michael) Apelt, 176 Ariz. 349, 368, 861 P.2d 634, 653 (1993). This is the second time the court has looked at this issue in the instant case. We stated previously: [T]he record establishes a rational basis for the different penalties in this case. The trial judge found that defendant committed the actual killing of David. He also found no mitigating factors sufficient to warrant leniency for defendant. The court, however, did find mitigating factors sufficient to warrant leniency for Susan (no prior criminal record, kind and caring mother, death sentence would be devastating to her six-year-old daughter, potential for violence was minimal, difficult childhood, difficult marriage to Clifford Minter followed by a difficult dissolution). Moreover, the jury foreman wrote to the trial judge following the trial advising him that all twelve jurors recommended leniency for Susan. White I, 168 Ariz. at 513-14, 815 P.2d at 882-83. ¶ 33 White argues that several common factors militate against disparate sentencing: both he and Susan planned the killing; neither had a prior felony record; imposition of capital punishment would be devastating to children of both; neither has a record of violence; both had a difficult childhood; there is no difference as to culpability; the same aggravator (pecuniary gain) applies to both; and the mitigators are similar. Further, White asserts that the trial court failed to explain the disparity in sentences and took no account of the argument that Susan was the mastermind behind the killing. ¶ 34 Little has changed since our decision in White I. The nucleus of the new evidence is Hammond's testimony that Susan Johnson was the mastermind. While there are similarities in the evidence as between the defendant and Susan, we agree with Judge Hancock's consideration of the disparate sentence issue. In the Special Verdict, he stated: On the issue of disparate sentences, Mr. White conveniently forgets that he was the triggerman and that he planned, plotted, and executed this killing. ... I have again considered whether the sentence of your codefendant and your sentence was [sic] fundamentally unfair, inappropriately disparate and a denial of equal protection. Judge Hancock found defendant's disparate treatment argument insufficient as mitigation, as do we. In State v. Jackson, we held that if disparity in sentences is justified by relative culpability, it receives little, if any weight. 186 Ariz. 20, 32, 918 P.2d 1038, 1050 (1996). We find that to be true here as well. ¶ 35 Accordingly, we conclude that defendant has presented nothing new that would justify a different posture by the court on the matter of disparate sentencing. Indeed, nothing of substance has changed.