Opinion ID: 3066031
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Presentencing Hearing

Text: In October 1998, the trial court held a one-day presentencing hearing. Poyson’s trial counsel called three witnesses to present mitigating evidence: his aunt, Laura Salas, his mother, Ruth Garcia, and the mitigation investigator, Blair Abbott. Counsel also introduced 56 exhibits. Poyson did not testify. The witnesses testified about Poyson’s drug and alcohol abuse and the mental and physical abuse inflicted on Poyson by his stepfather, Guillermo Aguilar, and maternal grandmother, Mary Milner. They also testified that Poyson’s stepfather, Sabas Garcia (Sabas), committed suicide in 1988, and that Sabas’ death had a devastating effect on Poyson. They further testified that Garcia used drugs and alcohol during the first three months of her pregnancy with Poyson.