Opinion ID: 2829983
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Defendant’s Guilt Phase Evidence

Text: Defendant called Jason Domke, a friend of Christopher Lyon‘s. Domke testified that Lyons showed him a knife and asked him if he wanted to go ―jacking‖ with him. Domke testified he saw Lyons retrieve a gun and a bag of 8 shells from Natalie Dannov‘s house. Lyons showed him a woman‘s stolen driver‘s license. D. Codefendant Dearaujo’s Guilt Phase Evidence10 Dearaujo called Keisha Lawrence, who had been married to John Howell; she had pled guilty to two counts of being an accessory to attempted kidnapping for robbery and served eight months of her one-year sentence. Lawrence believed Dearaujo was slow-witted and wanted to fit in. He was ―picked on,‖ ―punched‖ and manipulated by defendant and others in the group. Defendant was the leader the others looked up to. She corroborated defendant‘s involvement in the attempted carjacking of Debbie Phillips and Deena Nolin and the robbery and carjacking of Dale Nonies. Following the murder, Lawrence called defendant and asked what he was going to do about the homicide for which she blamed him. He said, ―It‘s already done. The bitch is dead.‖ When she asked about Dearaujo, defendant said Dearaujo was fine; he had the situation under control and she should not worry. E. Prosecution’s Penalty Phase Evidence
Yvonne Los‘s family and friends described the impact of her death. Her fiancé, ex-husband, parents, two siblings and two children represented the family. They were joined by two Air Force coworkers . Los was the oldest child in a close-knit family and had grown up taking care of her younger siblings. Her desire to help people led her to choose nursing as her profession. She joined the Air Force to further her education and was proud 10 Defendant was tried along with Dearaujo before separate juries. Dearaujo‘s convictions are not involved in this appeal. The evidence summarized here was heard by defendant‘s jury. 9 of her military service. She rose to the rank of staff sergeant, a difficult achievement for medical personnel. She did volunteer work and cared for a disabled boy. Committed to her Catholic faith, she loved her two children and instilled high moral values in them. She was a person who loved unconditionally. Each relative described learning of Los‘s death, their feelings of loss and grief and the impact of her death on the extended family. Her father testified about the pain of losing a child. Siblings recounted the family‘s sadness and the pall cast over family gatherings. Her son, age 10, was five when she died and remembered her as a ―nice mom.‖ Her daughter, 15, testified Los was a kind person and a role model. She thought of her mother every day. She remained upset that she and her mother had argued on the night of the murder and that she had gone to bed without telling her mother good-night. Los‘s ex-husband described how difficult it had been for him and their children after her death. He returned from Germany, where he was stationed, to be with the children and take them back to Germany. Witnesses described her funeral and burial in Iowa and a posthumous ceremony where an Air Force dormitory for nurses was named in her honor. A videotape of the ceremony, an unusual honor, was shown to the jury along with a montage of still photographs.
The prosecutor presented evidence in aggravation documenting defendant‘s criminal activity involving the ―use or attempted use of force or violence or the express or implied threat to use force.‖11 11 Section 190.3, factor (a). 10 Mario Loa testified that in September 1991 he was attacked by defendant and the ex-boyfriend of a woman Loa was dating. Trina P. testified that in January 1992, defendant hit her in the mouth following a disagreement. A number of witnesses testified to defendant‘s violent crimes while in custody. Inmate Donald Deloney testified how, in March 1994, he and defendant joined together to intimidate and assault other inmates. Defendant beat up an inmate to secure a lower bunk for Deloney and forced another inmate to orally copulate defendant. Deloney and defendant robbed at least 13 inmates. They took commissary cards and physically threatened Timothy Goodfield. After the incident with Goodfield, defendant and Deloney were reassigned to high security segregated housing. In May 1994, defendant fought with inmate Mark Sanchez. That same month, he ordered a Latino inmate to attack a White prisoner who had a swastika tattoo. In July 1994, defendant fought with inmate Mark Heinzen, believing he was gay. In August 1994, defendant assaulted Dale Foster because he wanted Foster‘s bunk. In December 1995, defendant fought Arturo Alatorre, who had complained that defendant exceeded his phone time. F. Defendant’s Penalty Phase Evidence Defendant‘s father testified he was a ―normal kid,‖ who had experienced problems in middle school that were resolved. He dropped out of high school and an alternative school. At 17, defendant went to work in his father‘s landscaping business. At 18, he began living away from home intermittently. Defendant‘s father was acquainted with most of his friends. He had been unaware defendant had any problems with substance abuse or violence. Defendant‘s arrest devastated his father who could not imagine life without his son. 11 Defendant‘s mother abused drugs when defendant was growing up and would visit out-of-town relatives for months at a time. Occasionally, she took her children. Defendant‘s sister described him as helpful, respectful and well-liked. Rahin Brown was defendant‘s neighbor and friend in 1987. They played basketball and football together. Brown left home, joined the Navy, and went to college. He remained in touch with defendant who was like a member of Brown‘s family. Brown was unaware of any bad behavior on defendant‘s part. In spite of defendant‘s convictions, Brown remained his friend and believed he had good qualities. Velma McDowell lived next door to defendant‘s grandmother. He ran errands for her and mowed her lawn. He was respectful and ―a good kid.‖ Defendant‘s sixth and seventh grade teachers also testified about his good character. Anthony Casas, a private investigator and litigation consultant, worked for the Department of Corrections for 23 years. He described the prison classification system. Based on his case review and interviews with defendant, he opined that if sentenced to life without parole, defendant would be sent to a level 4 facility, the most restrictive in the system. Casas described level 4 facilities, routines and disciplinary actions. Casas believed defendant would adapt and do well in that setting. Notwithstanding his ―infractions‖ while in custody, Casas believed he would not be a management problem in prison. Defendant also presented evidence that Mario Loa failed to initially name him as one of his assailants. A district attorney investigator testified that the attack on the inmate with the swastika tattoo was not committed by a Latino inmate acting on defendant‘s orders, but by someone else. 12 G. Prosecution Rebuttal Evidence Correctional Officer Martin Trochtrop found homemade weapons concealed in the ceiling of defendant‘s cell. Samuel Francis, a correctional officer for over 17 years, was called to counter Casa‘s opinion that defendant would pose no threat at a level 4 facility. Francis testified that an inmate with a record of weapons possession and assaults on other inmates might be an administrative problem. In his opinion, such an inmate would continue to demonstrate a propensity for violence.