Opinion ID: 1801025
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Melton's Prior Murder Conviction as an Aggravator

Text: Melton asserts that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to challenge the use of his prior murder conviction as an aggravator in his initial appeal. Specifically, Melton takes issue with Schiller's testimony, over defense objection, that there was no evidence whatsoever that anyone other than Melton was the triggerman in the Saylor murder. Melton points to other statements that were irrelevant, misleading, highly prejudicial and that introduced evidence that had not been heard by either jury. Melton also asserts that most of Schiller's testimony could only have been rebutted by Melton had he testified in the prior trial, or was speculative and could not have been rebutted at all, and thus violates Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 124 S.Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed.2d 177 (2004). In Rhodes v. State, 547 So.2d 1201 (Fla. 1989), this Court enunciated the principles governing the admission of prior violent felonies in criminal phase proceedings: [I]t is appropriate in the penalty phase of a capital trial to introduce testimony concerning the details of any prior felony conviction involving the use or threat of violence to the person rather than the bare admission of the conviction. Testimony concerning the events which resulted in the conviction assists the jury in evaluating the character of the defendant and the circumstances of the crime so that the jury can make an informed recommendation as to the appropriate sentence. . . . . . . . . . . [T]he line must be drawn when that testimony is not relevant, gives rise to a violation of a defendant's confrontation rights, or the prejudicial value outweighs the probative value. Id. at 1204-05 (citations omitted). In Dufour v. State, 905 So.2d 42 (Fla.2005), this Court held that it is proper for a prosecutor who previously prosecuted a defendant to give testimony regarding the defendant's prior crime. Id. at 63 (Moreover, the trial court did not err in allowing [the former prosecutor] to provide testimony regarding details of the [previous] murder.). We find that Melton has not raised a valid claim for relief since appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise this issue on appeal. We find nothing inappropriate in Schiller's testimony regarding Melton's prior conviction. Moreover, the transcripts make clear that the bulk of Schiller's time on the stand was spent being examined by defense counsel in an attempt to cast doubt on Melton's conviction for the Saylor murder. The transcripts from Melton's trial reveal that the State called Schiller to the stand during the penalty phase on direct examination, at which point he only stated that he prosecuted Melton in the Saylor murder and then introduced a copy of the certified conviction. However, once Terrell took over on cross-examination, he questioned Schiller in depth regarding the entirety of Melton's trial and conviction for Saylor's death. Initially, he questioned Schiller about sentencing guidelines, concurrent sentencing, and gain time. Terrell then asked Schiller about a jury question that arose at the Saylor trial; Schiller confirmed that the question indicated that the jury was struggling with whether to convict Melton as a principal in the Saylor crime. [12] Regarding Schiller's testimony concerning the evidence against Melton in the Saylor crime, the record also demonstrates that Terrell objected when the State asked Schiller, on redirect, whether there [was] any evidence received whatsoever that anyone other than Melton, the defendant in this case, was the triggerman [in the Saylor murder]? Conferencing at the bench, Terrell argued that the State was attempting to impeach the verdict and that it was a comment on the defendant's right to remain silent, since Melton did not testify at the Saylor trial pursuant to counsel's advice. The court disagreed and allowed the question, which Schiller answered in the negative. [13] In addition to this objection, trial counsel clearly used Schiller's time on the stand to attack the evidence against Melton in the Saylor trial. For example, Terrell asked Schiller about statements Ben Lewis made while in prison regarding this crime and asked Schiller to detail how Lewis was brought into the State Attorney's Office, granted immunity, and that he was never indicted in the Saylor case. Terrell also elicited testimony from Schiller regarding various lies Lewis made while under oath and conflicting statements he gave concerning details of the Saylor crime. Terrell clarified that it was Lewis who implicated everyone in the Saylor murder; he further introduced evidence of Tony Huston's plea agreement, which reduced his charges in the Saylor case to armed robbery and second degree murder with a recommended sentence of ten to twenty-five years. [14] Defense counsel also asked Schiller about other witness testimony that differed as to the number of people in the cab during the Saylor murder and how Lewis solicited false testimony to corroborate his version of events. In addition, Melton is correct in asserting that Schiller detailed the Saylor crime for the Carter jury. While being questioned by defense counsel, Schiller gave a detailed (two pages of testimony) account of the events leading up to and surrounding the Saylor crime. However, as is authorized under Rhodes, Schiller merely described the general events surrounding the Saylor crime, including that the victim was shot once in the head at close range. We find nothing in his version of events to be inflammatory or prejudicial. Schiller only recounted, based on Ben Lewis's version of events, the parties involved, how they formulated the plan to rob the taxi, and then how the crime supposedly occurred. He also testified as to the evidence in the case. In addition, Terrell confirmed with Schiller that, at the Saylor trial, Melton's counsel argued to the jury that the whole story had been made up by Lewis and Houston. Terrell also clarified that every time Lewis testified regarding Saylor's case, he had immunity. He also pointed out that there was some evidence indicating that Lewis was involved in the crime to a greater extent than he acknowledged. We conclude that appellate counsel was not ineffective for failing to raise this claim on appeal since the prior violent felony was appropriately introduced as an aggravator. See Pietri v. State, 885 So.2d 245, 273 (Fla.2004) (holding that appellate counsel cannot be found to be ineffective for failing to raise a meritless claim). Ultimately, the majority of Schiller's time on the stand was spent being examined by defense counsel regarding the role of Ben Lewis, his and Huston's relationship with the State Attorney's Office in prosecuting Melton for Saylor's murder, the inconsistencies in other accounts of the crime, and other such evidence that seemed to be an attempt on behalf of defense counsel to cast doubt on Melton's guilt in Saylor's death. Accordingly, we find that Melton's claim of ineffectiveness of appellate counsel is without merit. Schiller's testimony is not prejudicial to the point of outweighing its probative value. Finally, as to Melton's argument that his rights under Crawford were violated, this claim is likewise without merit. This Court has recently held that Crawford does not apply retroactively. See Chandler v. Crosby, 916 So.2d 728, 729 (Fla. 2005), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 127 S.Ct. 382, 166 L.Ed.2d 275 (2006). As Melton's conviction became final in October of 1994, ten years prior to Crawford, relief is denied.