Opinion ID: 2067279
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Excessiveness of the Death Sentence

Text: Defendant also contends that his death sentence is excessive because the offense resulted from marital, emotional, and drinking problems, and defendant's background included excellent military and work records, serious medical problems, and no significant criminal history. Defendant relies on People v. Carlson (1980), 79 Ill.2d 564, 38 Ill.Dec. 809, 404 N.E.2d 233, People v. Buggs (1986), 112 Ill.2d 284, 97 Ill.Dec. 669, 493 N.E.2d 332, and People v. Johnson (1989), 128 Ill.2d 253, 131 Ill.Dec. 562, 538 N.E.2d 1118, in which this court vacated death sentences. The State responds that defendant's long-standing abusive conduct toward women and those who interceded on their behalf, culminating in two murders and an attempted murder, justifies imposition of the death penalty. In accord with constitutional and legislative pronouncements, this court has automatic authority to review any death penalty imposed. (Ill.Const.1970, art. VI, § 4(b); Ill.Rev.Stat.1985, ch. 38, par. 9-1(i).) In determining whether a death sentence was properly imposed, this court is governed by the principle that in capital cases the fundamental respect for humanity underlying the eighth amendment `requires consideration of the character and record of the individual offender and the circumstances of the particular offense as a constitutionally indispensable part of the process of inflicting the penalty of death.' ( People v. Carlson (1980), 79 Ill.2d 564, 590, 38 Ill.Dec. 809, 404 N.E.2d 233, quoting Woodson v. North Carolina (1976), 428 U.S. 280, 304, 96 S.Ct. 2978, 2991, 49 L.Ed.2d 944, 961.) The Illinois Constitution requires that [a]ll penalties shall be determined both according to the seriousness of the offense and with the objective of restoring the offender to useful citizenship. (Ill. Const.1970, art. I, § 11. See also People v. Tye (1990), 141 Ill.2d 1, 152 Ill.Dec. 249, 565 N.E.2d 931 (Ryan, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part).) This court has vacated death sentences where such an extreme penalty was found to be inappropriate, in view of any relevant mitigating factors. Tye, 141 Ill.2d at 35-36, 152 Ill. Dec. 249, 565 N.E.2d 931 (Ryan, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part) (citing Johnson, 128 Ill.2d 253, 131 Ill.Dec. 562, 538 N.E.2d 1118, Buggs, 112 Ill.2d 284, 97 Ill.Dec. 669, 493 N.E.2d 332, and Carlson, 79 Ill.2d 564, 38 Ill.Dec. 809, 404 N.E.2d 233); People v. Gleckler (1980), 82 Ill.2d 145, 44 Ill.Dec. 483, 411 N.E.2d 849; People v. Walcher (1969), 42 Ill.2d 159, 246 N.E.2d 256; People v. Crews (1969), 42 Ill.2d 60, 244 N.E.2d 593. Defendant compares his circumstances to those of the defendants in Johnson, Buggs, and Carlson. In all three of those cases, the court's decision to vacate the death sentence depended to a great extent on the presence of certain mitigating factors: no significant history of prior criminal activity (Ill.Rev.Stat.1985, ch. 38, par. 9-1(c)(1)) and action under extreme mental or emotional disturbance (Ill.Rev.Stat.1985, ch. 38, par. 9-1(c)(2)). Specifically, in Johnson, defendant shot and murdered one man, shot and wounded two others, and took money from one of the victims. The incident occurred after defendant was fired from his job and returned to his place of employment to pick up his final paycheck. The defendant testified that he had been carrying a gun for protection while traveling on public transportation. On the day of the offenses, the defendant had used alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana laced with the drug PCP. When the defendant arrived at his former work place, he was told that there was no check for him, even though earlier he had been told that there would be a check. The defendant then shot the supervisor who had fired him, in addition to one of his former co-workers. The defendant forced another worker to check the safe in the office for money; however, the two were unable to gain access to the safe. The defendant then had the third victim lie on the floor, shot him twice, and took money from him. As the defendant was leaving, he saw that the third victim was still moving, and so he stabbed him. The defendant in Johnson had only one prior criminal charge, for the misdemeanor offense of unlawful possession of a weapon, for which he completed supervision. His work record was good, and he had expressed remorse for the crimes. In addition, the evidence showed that he suffered severe emotional distress from the loss of his job and then, after being told that there would be a paycheck for him, discovered that there was no check. The court, in vacating the death sentence, looked to Carlson and Buggs. In Buggs, the defendant's wife and child died in a fire in their home. Defendant set the fire after arguing with his wife concerning her marital infidelities and being told by her that he was not the father of their two children. The defendant poured gasoline on his wife and in the home before lighting a match. The defendant had been drinking heavily during the month before the incident, and had a history of drinking problems, including blackouts. The defendant, however, had served in the military for 21 years, and had no prior history of serious criminal activity. A psychiatrist for the defense testified that the defendant suffered from an Isolated Explosive Disorder at the time of the offenses. There was also evidence, however, that the defendant previously had stabbed someone and had fired a shot between his son's legs during an argument with his wife six months before the subject offenses. In view of all of the circumstances surrounding the offenses and the character of the defendant, this court found that, absent the marital disharmony and dispute which triggered the tragic sequence of events, the offenses probably would not have occurred. In Carlson, the defendant was convicted of the murder of his former wife and a police officer who attempted to arrest the defendant after his wife's murder. The defendant and his wife, after 19 years of marriage, divorced three months prior to the murders. The defendant became distressed when learning of his former wife's boyfriend, and then shot and killed her and set fire to her home. The defendant then went to a bar and attempted to call his daughter. He ordered drinks, and then gave some money to a friend to provide for his son's education. Three police officers arrived at the bar, intending to arrest the defendant. The defendant shot and killed one police officer, and shot and wounded another officer, before the third officer took the gun away from the defendant. The defendant, however, had no prior criminal record and had suffered severe physical and emotional problems in the two years prior to committing the two murders. Expert testimony showed that the defendant was distraught over his divorce and his wife's new boyfriend. Further, the defendant had shown concern for his son. The trial court in the instant case distinguished Carlson from the facts before it. In the instant case, the trial court noted, defendant's divorce from Susan had occurred in 1983, several years prior to the murder, whereas in Carlson, the defendant had gone through a divorce three months prior to the murder. Further, the trial court stated that the defendant in Carlson did not have a history of criminal activity, whereas Leger had a prior DUI conviction and two battery convictions. We find, however, that there exist sufficient substantial similarities in this case compared with Johnson, Buggs, and Carlson to conclude that the death sentence in this case is excessive. The circumstances of this offense and the character of defendant do not demonstrate that the death sentence is appropriate, or that the deterrent and retributive purposes of the death penalty will be served by imposing the death penalty. See Johnson, 128 Ill.2d 253, 131 Ill.Dec. 562, 538 N.E.2d 1118. Defendant presented substantially more evidence of his medical, marital, and emotional problems during the sentencing hearing than was presented at the guilt phase of his trial. Defendant himself and other defense witnesses testified as to the very serious injury defendant sustained in 1970, at age 24, when a 10-ton shuttle car rolled over his legs while he was working in the mines, nearly requiring that his legs be amputated. After suffering the mining injury, defendant had continuous back and leg problems, leading to three back surgeries. Further, defendant was taking 10 different prescription drugs, including anti-anxiety medication and medication containing codeine and librium, over the course of six years. Both the defense and the prosecution's experts testified that the medications had an enhancing effect when taken together, and that their effect would further be enhanced if taken with alcohol. Both experts testified that the medications could affect a person's reasoning ability. In addition, defendant had a long history of alcohol problems, beginning at home at age four. Defendant had attempted to stop drinking, attended self-help meetings, and remained sober for almost a year beginning in 1985. Defendant's work record was very good, and the evidence shows that during the course of defendant's continuing medical problems, he continued to return to work when he was able to do so. The trial court noted that defendant expressed remorse. The two battery convictions in defendant's record apparently are connected to his marital problems with Susan. One offense occurred on February 2, 1983, and the other on May 4, 1983 (although the conviction for the second offense was entered in 1984, and this offense is referred to in testimony as the 1984 battery conviction). The record indicates that defendant and Susan separated on or about February 21, 1983, and that the judgment of dissolution of their marriage was entered on May 5, 1983, after 17 years of marriage. Although the record shows that defendant had a history of abuse towards Susan, the May 4 offense occurred one day prior to the entry of their divorce judgment. Similarly, the offenses in the instant case occurred only five days prior to the date on which defendant's divorce from Mary was to be entered. The record indicates that defendant was not abusive towards his children, and that other than his marital discord, he otherwise was not violent. The trial court, however, failed to consider defendant's impending divorce from Mary in mitigation, as part of the emotional disturbance from which, the evidence indicates, defendant was suffering. Rather, the trial court merely concluded generally that defendant was not suffering from extreme emotional distress. The trial court also distinguished Carlson on the basis that defendant Leger's divorce from Susan had occurred several years prior to the offense, unlike the circumstances in Carlson, where the defendant's divorce occurred within months of the offenses. The trial court did not state that it took into account defendant's pending divorce from Mary. We believe, however, that the evidence shows that defendant was suffering extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the offenses. There are also a number of other circumstances in mitigation of the offenses. The record shows that a number of people in the community stated that they got along well with defendant, and that defendant did not display any violence. Defendant served as union president for the mine workers over several years. In addition, defendant enlisted in the Air Force and served for more than 3½ years, receiving an honorable discharge and four medals of commendation. In view of these circumstances, and the evidence that defendant's violent acts were triggered by his impending divorce and his emotional disturbance over his history of marital problems, we believe that the death sentence is excessive. Based upon the particular circumstances of this case and the trial court's findings at the sentencing hearing, however, we believe that a remand of this matter for resentencing is unnecessary. Section 5-8-1(a)(1) of the Unified Code of Corrections (Ill.Rev.Stat.1985, ch. 38, par. 1005-8-1(a)(1)) sets forth sentencing guidelines for murder. Specifically, subsection (b) of section 5-8-1(a)(1) (Ill.Rev.Stat.1985, ch. 38, par. 1005-8-1(a)(1)(b)) provides that a court may impose a term of natural life imprisonment on a defendant where the murder was accompanied by exceptionally brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty or where the court finds that any of the aggravating factors listed in section 9-1(b) of the Criminal Code of 1961 (Ill.Rev. Stat.1985, ch. 38, par. 9-1(b)) are present. At the sentencing hearing in the instant case, the trial court found that certain of the aggravating factors of section 9-1(b) of the Criminal Code of 1961 were present. For instance, defendant murdered Susan Leger with intent to kill and in the course of another felony, namely, home invasion. (See Ill.Rev.Stat.1985, ch. 38, par. 9-1(b)(6).) Accordingly, under section 5-8-1(a)(1)(b) of the Unified Code of Corrections, defendant is subject to a sentence of natural life imprisonment. (Ill.Rev.Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 1005-8-1(a)(1)(b).) Based on the unique circumstances surrounding this offense, and pursuant to our Rule 615(b)(4), we reduce the trial court's sentence in this case to a term of natural life imprisonment. 134 Ill.2d R. 615(b)(4).