Opinion ID: 1723757
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: trial counsel was ineffective in failing to present mitigation evidence concerning chase's mental retardation.

Text: ¶ 4. In November 1989, defense counsel moved in November 1989 to have the circuit court provide funding for an investigator and a clinical psychiatrist/expert to aid the defense. This motion specifically stated: In anticipation of a potential sentencing trial in the bifurcated proceedings, Defendant requires the services of a qualified clinical psychiatrist to examine the Defendant, his history and record, in order to be fully prepared to testify at trial as to mitigating factors. Substantial evidence exists that is likely to prove the existence of mitigating factors enumerated in Miss. Code Ann. Sec. 99-19-101(6) as well as others not statutorily enumerated. ¶ 5. The circuit court granted the motion as to the psychiatrist. Chase was eventually examined by Dr. John W. Perry, Jr. of McComb, a psychologist, pursuant to the suggestion of insanity and the circuit court's order of December 8, 1989, for a determination of Chase's sanity at the time of the murder and whether he was competent to stand trial. Chase was also examined by Dr. S. Ray Pate of Jackson, a psychiatrist, pursuant to the circuit court's order of January 16, 1990. ¶ 6. Dr. Perry's report provided the following under Test Results and Interpretation: The WMS was administered first, and the defendant seemed to be performing at his best at this point in the session. He attained an MQ of 99, which is in the average range and indicates that he is not experiencing any problems with recent recall. He did not perform as well on the WAIS-R, but it was my impression that he was not concentrating as well and perhaps just did not feel like putting forth his best effort. This was particularly evident on the Performance items, where he sat back in his chair and perhaps did not get the best view of the test material. His Full Scale IQ of 71 is in the borderline range. The verbal IQ of 77 is also in the borderline range. The Performance IQ of 64 is in the mildly retarded range, but he did not seem to be performing at his best on these particular tests. There were no indications of a thought disorder of any type in the qualitative aspects of his test responses. The WRAT-R indicates that the defendant has reading recognition skills at the tenth grade level and spelling skills at the seventh grade level. His arithmetic skills are also at the seventh grade level. These scores are consistent with his educational history and indicate that he is literate. ... . It is my professional opinion that the defendant is competent to stand trial and that at the time of the alleged offense he was capable of distinguishing right from wrong. I do not see a need for further evaluation or treatment of any mental disorder. ¶ 7. Dr. Pate's report was in the form of a five-page letter to defense counsel. Most of the letter was taken up with a summary of Chase's life. The letter ended: In summary, this is a man who is charged with extremely serious crimes, and I was asked to do a psychiatric evaluation. Insofar as I can determine at this time he does not have any mental illness and does not give history compatible with having a mental illness at any time in his life. He seems to clearly understand what his charges are, he seems to be able to cooperate well with his attorney, and he seems to understand that the actions that he is charged with were serious crimes. Chase called neither of these doctors nor did he attempt to introduce either of these reports in the guilt or sentencing phase of his trial. ¶ 8. Chase now argues that his counsel was ineffective for failure to introduce, in the guilt and sentencing phase, that portion of Dr. Perry's report which indicated mental retardation. Chase cites numerous cases from other jurisdictions where failure to introduce mitigation evidence, particularly concerning mental problems and socioeconomic background in the sentencing phase, was found to be ineffective assistance of counsel. A review of the cases shows that the fact situations presented are much more severe and obvious, and many times show a failure to even investigate the mental problems of the defendant in the first instance. See Beavers v. Balkcom, 636 F.2d 114 (5th Cir.1981)(failure to obtain psychiatric examination of defendant or review of medical records where defendant had been confined twice to mental institution); Wilson v. Butler, 813 F.2d 664 (5th Cir.1987)(failure to investigate mental background of defendant who had suffered from convulsions and was found to be paranoid schizophrenic); Greer v. Beto, 379 F.2d 923 (5th Cir.1967)(failure to introduce medical records where sanity was at issue); United States v. Fessel, 531 F.2d 1275 (5th Cir.1976)(failure to seek psychiatric assistance where defendant had previously been found to be schizophrenic); Brewer v. Aiken, 935 F.2d 850 (7th Cir.1991)(failure to investigate mental history where defendant had undergone shock therapy, suffered brain damage and was alleged to be susceptible to the influence of others); Cunningham v. Zant, 928 F.2d 1006 (11th Cir.1991)(failure to present at sentencing phase evidence of mild retardation, minimal schooling, poverty stricken background and death of father at early age); Loyd v. Whitley, 977 F.2d 149 (5th Cir.1992)(failure to present psychiatric evidence at sentencing phase where sanity was critical issue, defendant had been victim of child abuse and had engaged in substance abuse, had been found psychotic and family provided funds for independent examination). ¶ 9. Chase also cites State v. Tokman, 564 So.2d 1339 (Miss. 1990), where this Court affirmed the circuit court's finding that Tokman was entitled to a new sentencing hearing due to ineffective assistance of counsel. However, it is clear that the factual situation in Tokman is distinguishable from that presented by Chase. Tokman's counsel spent a total of six hours preparation time for the trial; failed to perform any independent investigation; failed to search for any mitigating evidence beyond a discussion with Tokman's mother; and failed to make sure that Tokman had undergone a psychological examination ordered by the circuit court. ¶ 10. In a more recent case, Cole v. State, 666 So.2d 767 (Miss. 1995), this Court found that counsel was not ineffective despite his failure to further investigate psychological reports which gave some indication that Cole had a low intelligence quotient but did not give the exact figure. This Court found that evidence of Cole's minimal education, illiteracy and deprived childhood was made known to the jury, and under these circumstances there was no error in counsel's actions under Strickland v. Washington. Cole, 666 So.2d at 776-77. ¶ 11. In this case there was no evidence presented, nor was it alleged, that Ricky Chase was the victim of child abuse, poverty, substance abuse or mental problems resulting from physical injury or organic disease. Lynn Beall, his elementary school principal, testified during sentencing that he was a follower and would be influenced by the other children. Chase was raised by his mother and, though Chase's parents had never been married, Chase had frequent contact with his father. There is also no evidence that counsel failed to sufficiently investigate this aspect of Chase's case. Counsel managed to obtain two mental evaluations of Chase, one in specific preparation for the possible sentencing phase of the trial. Counsel presented seven witnesses in the sentencing phase of the trial. These were either family members or people who had contact with Chase through school, church or other social activities. Counsel appeared to be following a strategy of trying to show that there was some good in Chase and that this could serve as justification for sparing his life, instead of trying to show him as a victim. The evidence further showed that Chase had never failed a grade in school, had almost completed the tenth grade before dropping out, and had been a good athlete in high school. One of the mitigating circumstances presented to the jury during sentencing was whether Ricky Chase was dominated by and under duress from Robert Washington. ¶ 12. Chase did not raise an insanity defense at trial. Therefore, it does not appear that counsel could be ineffective for failure to introduce the diminished capacity evidence in question during the guilt phase. The sentencing phase is another matter. Chase was clearly entitled to present mitigating evidence under Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101(6), and under the rule that basically any evidence bearing on mitigation is admissible as long as the evidence is relevant. Carr v. State, 655 So.2d 824, 835 (Miss. 1995). Seen in the context of the entire report, Dr. Perry's findings do not seem to be powerful evidence in favor of Chase. They would be probably be even less so if the jury were also made aware of the results of the separate exam of Dr. Pate, specifically requested by Chase. As this omission may be seen a legitimate exercise of trial strategy, this assignment is without merit.