Opinion ID: 853673
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Sentence Based on Unreliable Information

Text: Williams next claims that his sentence should be reversed because the sentencing judge relied upon information contained in a psychological profile in deciding whether to sentence Williams to death. As part of the pre-sentencing investigation, Williams completed a psychological questionnaire, as Judge Letsinger requested. The psychological questionnaire contained eighty questions asking for yes or no responses. (P-C.R. at 2601-03.) The questions were taken from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Judge Letsinger testified that he routinely asks defendants to complete this questionnaire in order to assist him in determining their sentence, although he cannot recall whether he used the questionnaire in sentencing Williams. (P-C.R. at 2576, 2580, 2591.) Defense counsel received a copy of the completed questionnaire attached to Williams' presentencing report; however, the sentencing order does not refer to the questionnaire. (P-C.R. at 1507-09, 1512.) Williams claims that Letsinger's reliance upon the questionnaire rendered his sentencing decision arbitrary and capricious. (Appellant's Br. at 53.) We have previously considered Judge Letsinger's use of the questionnaire in other capital cases. Williams, 706 N.E.2d at 162; Rouster v. State, 705 N.E.2d 999, 1015-16 (Ind.1999); Matheney v. State, 688 N.E.2d 883, 909 (Ind.1997), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1148, 119 S.Ct. 1046, 143 L.Ed.2d 53 (1999). As in those cases, we review here the aggravating and mitigating circumstances absent the psychological questionnaire to determine whether the death sentence was appropriate. Rouster. 705 N.E.2d at 1015. In sentencing, the court found the following aggravating factors present: 1) Williams intentionally killed Robert Hollins while committing robbery; 2) Williams intentionally killed Debra Rice while committing robbery; 3) Williams intentionally killed Michael Richardson while committing robbery; and 4) Williams killed two or more persons. [4] (T.R. at 1962-63.) These aggravating factors relate directly to the facts of the crime. There is no indication the trial court could have used the psychological questionnaire in weighing these aggravating factors. See Rouster, 705 N.E.2d at 1015. The sentencing judge also found that certain mitigating factors existed, but determined that the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances. (T.R. at 1961, 1963.) On direct appeal, we concluded that the trial court properly imposed the death penalty. Williams, 669 N.E.2d at 1390. Re-examining that decision, now, we reach the same conclusion.