Opinion ID: 2516369
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Statutory Mitigating Factors

Text: 1. Mental Impairment ś 93 The (G)(1) mitigating factor depends on evidence that [t]he defendant's capacity to appreciate the wrongfulness of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law was significantly impaired, but not so impaired as to constitute a defense to prosecution. A.R.S. § 13-703(G)(1). An identifiable mental disease or psychological defect must exist to prove significant impairment. See State v. Laird, 186 Ariz. 203, 208, 920 P.2d 769, 774 (1996); State v. Apelt (Rudi), 176 Ariz. 369, 377, 861 P.2d 654, 662 (1993); Brewer, 170 Ariz. at 505, 826 P.2d at 802. Character or personality disorders usually are not sufficient to find that a defendant was significantly impaired. See State v. Martinez, 196 Ariz. 451, 999 P.2d 795 ś 52 (2000); State v. Murray, 184 Ariz. 9, 42, 906 P.2d 542, 575 (1995). And, as with other mental disorders, proof of actual causation between the impairment and the criminal act is essential. [E]vidence of causation is required before mental impairment can be considered a significant mitigating factor. State v. Stuard, 176 Ariz. 589, 608 n. 12, 863 P.2d 881, 900 n. 12 (1993). The court does not equate impulsivity or poor judgment with mental inability to conform one's conduct to the law. State v. King, 180 Ariz. 268, 282, 883 P.2d 1024, 1038 (1994). ś 94 Here, the trial court found that defendant was not mentally impaired. The defendant's expert, clinical psychologist Richard Lanyon, failed to provide credible proof, and while Dr. Lanyon diagnosed defendant as suffering from Bipolar II Disorder, a mental illness characterized only in part by poor judgment and impulsivity, the trial court concluded that this opinion was not supported by the test data compiled by Lanyon, [did] not even comport to the definition of the condition as listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder IV [DSM IV], the Bible of psychiatrists and psychologists, and [was] totally refuted by the testimony of psychologist Michael B. Bayless. ś 95 Dr. Bayless, also an experienced clinical psychologist, rejected Lanyon's Bipolar II Disorder diagnosis, in part because the disorder requires a major episode of depression. Bayless found, upon interviewing the defendant and reviewing his record, that he had never suffered a major episode of depression. Bayless testified that [t]here is absolutely no indication vis-a-vis the test data, records, information that is in the police reports or anywhere in this record that suggests that [defendant] is, in fact, a Bipolar II Disorder. Moreover, Bayless said that poor judgment and impulsivity are not unique to Bipolar II Disorder and that those characteristics are frequently observed in individuals diagnosed with the less severe antisocial or borderline personality disorder. In the end, Dr. Lanyon conceded, despite defendant's extensive record of incarceration in juvenile facilities, that he was not aware that any psychologist, psychiatrist, or other professional had ever diagnosed the defendant with Bipolar II Disorder, nor was any evidence offered indicating defendant had ever taken medication for Bipolar II or for any form of depression. ś 96 Defendant claims that Bayless' testimony supports the claim of mental impairment, underscoring the antisocial or borderline personality disorder that Bayless described. The flaw in this argument is that our established (G)(1) jurisprudence requires, unequivocally, that defendant be shown to suffer actual impairment due to mental illness. See State v. Kayer, 194 Ariz. 423, 437, 984 P.2d 31, 45, ś 50-51 (1999). The trial court concluded, accurately, that it was clear from the testimony of the experts that this is simply a conduct disorder and is not a mental illness, (emphasis added) and that on this record, defendant's anti-social or borderline personality disorder did not support defendant's (G)(1) statutory claim of significant impairment. ś 97 When independently reviewing a death sentence, we adhere to the rule that the credibility of expert witnesses is for the trier of fact. See Martinez, 196 Ariz. at 464, 999 P.2d at 808 ś 53 (deferring to the trial court's evaluation of medical experts' credibility); State v. Doerr, 193 Ariz. 56, 69, 969 P.2d 1168, 1181 ś 64 (1998) ([T]he trial judge has broad discretion in determining the weight and credibility given to mental health evidence.). The trial judge is in the best position to evaluate credibility and accuracy, as well as draw inferences, weigh, and balance. State v. Bible, 175 Ariz. 549, 609, 858 P.2d 1152, 1212 (1993); see also State v. Milke, 177 Ariz. 118, 128, 865 P.2d 779, 789 (1993) (When mitigating evidence is conflicting and involves considerations of credibility, we give great deference to the trial court's conclusions.). On the record before us, we agree with the trial judge that Dr. Lanyon's testimony, introduced at the sentencing hearing relative to his diagnosis of the mental illness, Bipolar II Disorder, and his effort to find a link between the disorder and the crime, was thoroughly and effectively discredited by Dr. Bayless. ś 98 The finding that the evidence failed to establish Bipolar II is a key factor in our analysis. State v. Lopez, 175 Ariz. 407, 414, 857 P.2d 1261, 1268 (1993). This court has previously held that the trial court is not compelled to accept, as mitigating, psychiatric expert opinion testimony on significant impairment, but may reject it in favor of other psychiatric evidence which contradicts it. See State v. Wallace (II), 160 Ariz. 424, 426, 773 P.2d 983, 985 (1989). Upon review, we conclude the trial court correctly determined the (G)(1) impairment mitigator was not established. 2. Duress ś 99 Defendant argues on appeal that the crimes were committed under duress. Duress qualifies as a mitigating circumstance under A.R.S. § 13-703(G)(2) when it is unusual and substantial. State v. Herrera, 174 Ariz. 387, 400, 850 P.2d 100, 113 (1993). Here, the lower court emphasized that defendant neither claimed nor produced evidence in support of a(G)(2) duress finding. Our review of the record discloses no evidence suggesting the defendant acted under duress. 3. Minor Participant ś 100 Pursuant to section 13-703(G)(3), participation in a crime may be considered as mitigation where a defendant demonstrates that while he was legally accountable for the conduct of another, his participation in the crime was relatively minor. Murray, 184 Ariz. at 39, 906 P.2d at 572. Here, the state proved beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant was a major participant in the Cabral murder. Importantly, the jury reached the same conclusion during the guilt phase of the trial by finding defendant guilty of premeditated murder. There is no suggestion in the record that defendant's participation was minor. 4. Unforeseeability of Death ś 101 The court may consider as mitigation a defendant's inability reasonably to foresee that his conduct will likely result in death. A.R.S.§ 13-703(G)(4). Here, the trial court correctly determined that the defendant's planning, deliberation, the verbal statements of intent well in advance of the crime, and the actual murder weapon found on his person, pointed strongly to the foreseeability of the victim's death. 5. Age ś 102 The age of a defendant may be a mitigating circumstance. A.R.S. § 13-703(G)(5); Jackson, 186 Ariz. at 30, 918 P.2d at 1048. In assessing age as a mitigator, courts also consider intelligence, Laird, 186 Ariz. at 209, 920 P.2d at 775; level of maturity, id.; judgment, Jackson, 186 Ariz. at 31, 918 P.2d at 1049; past experience, id. at 30, 918 P.2d at 1048; criminal history, Murray, 184 Ariz. at 43, 906 P.2d at 576; and involvement in the crime, Jackson, 186 Ariz. at 30, 918 P.2d at 1048. ś 103 Here, the trial court determined that defendant, age twenty years, three months when the crime was committed, does qualify for statutory mitigation under (G)(5). A.R.S. § 13-703(G)(5). The court, however, afforded the factor insignificant weight because evidence of defendant's immaturity due to age or low intelligence was weak. His numerous referrals and adjudications, including assaults and weapons crimes led the court to conclude that by past experience this defendant is very mature for his age. [7] The fact defendant was fully capable of conceiving and pre-determining a criminal plan and carrying it out in the face of every opportunity to choose a better course is a relevant consideration. Had the murder been committed on the spur of the moment, impulsively, or in a quick lapse of judgment, mitigation based on age would deserve more weight, but that was not the case. ś 104 Our review indicates that by all accounts, defendant tested as having average intelligence. His involvement in the criminal justice system is extensive, including violent offenses, and he carried out these crimes in the presence of his much younger sixteen-year-old brother-in-law. ś 105 Clearly, defendant made poor life choices, but we do not conclude that he never has had the experience of living as an independent functioning adult. Trostle, 191 Ariz. at 21, 951 P.2d at 886. Evidence from experts and family that he was susceptible to peer pressure, needing to be liked as well as having impulse control problems, pales under the crimes he committed. While we recognize age and emotional immaturity as deserving some weight, neither warrants significant weight as mitigation on this record. 6. Disparate Treatment ś 106 The related question of disparate treatment is also raised by the defendant as between himself and his younger brother-in-law who received a lesser sentence. Notwithstanding the disparity, we are reminded that the evidence of actual culpability in the killing pointed to the defendant. He possessed the gun at the time of arrest; he was four years older; he took control of the encounter with the Walkers at the accident scene the morning after the murder; and most importantly, he masterminded the carjacking and theft of the vehicle, which set the stage for a murder that the defendant himself had pre-announced.