Opinion ID: 1115981
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: review of death penalty

Text: NRS 177.055(2)(d) requires that we review a death sentence to determine (1) whether evidence supports the finding of an aggravating circumstance or circumstances; (2) whether the death sentence was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any arbitrary factor; (3) whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases in the state, considering both the crime and the defendant. [15] The jury found two aggravating circumstances: (1) the murder was committed by a person who was previously convicted of another felony or felonies involving the use or threat of violence to the person of another, and (2) the murder involved depravity of mind. The jury further found there were no mitigating circumstances. A review of the record indicates that the appellant is no stranger to the criminal justice system. From the age of 13 years he had significant involvement with juvenile authorities resulting in his detention in facilities in both Clark and Elko Counties. In 1964, when he was 17 years old, he was sentenced to the Nevada State Prison for a term of 5 to 15 years for crimes of violence. This pattern continued after incarceration. On October 14, 1966, he escaped from the state prison and was picked up shortly thereafter. On January 30, 1967, he was involved in another escape attempt in which two officers were taken hostage. On August 22, 1973, appellant jammed an eleven inch homemade knife into the stomach of a correctional officer, and with other inmates caused significant damage to the facility on that occasion. He was paroled April 26, 1976, and a short time later picked up for parole violation, allegedly having committed crimes in Washoe County for which he apparently was never tried. On release from the state prison, March 19, 1978, his career of crime and violence continued unabated. A crime spree in July 1978 resulted in a conviction of one count of robbery, two counts of second degree kidnapping with a weapon and three counts of sexual assault. Between August 25 and August 27, 1979, he and other inmates took over the Las Vegas annex of the Clark County jail, for which he was convicted of attempted escape with the use of a weapon, possession of a firearm by an ex-felon, and two counts of robbery with a weapon. In sum the record indicates, starting in 1964, thirteen felonies accompanied by violence or threat of violence to ten persons, for which he pled guilty or was convicted. The circumstances surrounding the murder by ligature strangulation support the jury's finding that the murder involved depravity of mind. It can be inferred that McKenna was harassing and brutalizing Nobles, resulting in the death of a 20 year old inmate for no apparent reason. From our review of the record, we conclude: (1) that the evidence supports the jury's findings of aggravating circumstances; (2) that the sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any arbitrary factor; (3) that the death sentence imposed in this case is not excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases within the state, considering both the crime and the defendant. See Neuschafer v. State, 101 Nev. ___, ___ P.2d ___ (1985); Nevius v. State, 101 Nev. 238, 699 P.2d 1053 (1985); Bishop v. State, 95 Nev. 511, 597 P.2d 273 (1979); Deutscher v. State, 95 Nev. 669, 601 P.2d 407 (1979). Accordingly, we affirm McKenna's conviction and sentence.