Opinion ID: 1207978
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Historic Substance Abuse

Text: If impairment does not rise to the level of a statutory mitigating circumstance, the trial court should still consider whether such impairment constitutes nonstatutory mitigation, when viewed in light of defendant's alleged history of alcohol and drug abuse. Gallegos, 178 Ariz. at 17, 870 P.2d at 1113. Various relatives and acquaintances testified that defendant was an alcoholic and that he considered himself to be one. A clinical psychologist agreed with that assessment. Other acquaintances testified that they had seen defendant drunk before. Defendant claims to have consumed at least a pint of whiskey every day and to have used various illicit drugs in the past. In 1977, he was arrested twice for drunkenness; the cases were dismissed. Defendant was convicted of driving while intoxicated in 1986 and 1989. He was arrested in 1991 for driving under the influence of alcohol and the case was dismissed. As we have recommended in past cases, the trial judge here was very thorough in considering the statutory and nonstatutory mitigating circumstances. Gallegos, 178 Ariz. at 22-23, 870 P.2d at 1118-19. With respect to the item of historic substance abuse, the trial court stated in its special verdict, Alcohol abuse over an extended period of defendant's life, and his drinking at the time of the killings are not mitigating circumstances under the facts of this case. We have reviewed the entire record and agree with the trial court that defendant has failed to prove his alcohol or drug use is a nonstatutory mitigating factor.