Opinion ID: 1325116
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Relevance of Evidence of Dangerousness.

Text: Frye contends the evidence of his purported escape plan was inadmissible under Code § 19.2-264.2, which confines consideration to his past criminal record of convictions. This argument, however, overlooks other statutory language and our prior rulings. Under Code § 19.2-264.4(C), the Commonwealth is authorized to establish a defendant's future dangerousness by evidence of the prior history of the defendant. We have repeatedly held that admissible evidence in the sentencing phase is not limited to the defendant's record of convictions. See Watkins, 229 Va. at 487, 331 S.E.2d at 436; Edmonds v. Commonwealth, 229 Va. 303, 312, 329 S.E.2d 807, 813, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 106 S.Ct. 339, 88 L.Ed.2d 324 (1985); LeVasseur, 225 Va. at 593-94, 304 S.E.2d at 660; Peterson v. Commonwealth, 225 Va. 289, 298, 302 S.E.2d 520, 526, cert. denied, 464 U.S. 865, 104 S.Ct. 202, 78 L.Ed.2d 176 (1983); Quintana v. Commonwealth, 224 Va. 127, 146-47, 295 S.E.2d 643, 653 (1982), cert. denied, 460 U.S. 1029, 103 S.Ct. 1280, 75 L.Ed.2d 501 (1983); Stamper v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 260, 275-77, 257 S.E.2d 808, 819-20 (1979), cert. denied, 445 U.S. 972, 100 S.Ct. 1666, 64 L.Ed.2d 649 (1980). Adhering to these rulings, we hold that evidence of a defendant's plan to escape is relevant and admissible to show his future dangerousness. Frye also contends that evidence of his confession to Investigator Cale and his demeanor during this statement were irrelevant and should not have been admitted. We disagree. The circumstances of the crime and the defendant's lack of remorse are proper factors to be considered on the issue of the probability that he will constitute a continuing serious threat to society. See Code § 19.2-264.4 (evidence of circumstances surrounding the commission of the offense is admissible to show dangerousness); Giarratano v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 1064, 1074-75, 266 S.E.2d 94, 100 (1980) (evidence may include circumstances of offense); Clark v. Commonwealth, 220 Va. 201, 210-11, 257 S.E.2d 784, 790 (1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1049, 100 S.Ct. 741, 62 L.Ed.2d 736 (1980) (jury may consider lack of remorse). Moreover, in his statement to Cale, Frye asserted that he had perpetrated about 3,000 acts of breaking and entering. This evidence also was relevant to the question of his future dangerousness.