Opinion ID: 2516369
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Good Behavior While Incarcerated

Text: ś 119 Good conduct during incarceration adduces a positive reaction but does not ordinarily warrant a reduction in sentence. Atwood, 171 Ariz. at 655, 832 P.2d at 672; State v. Gillies (II), 142 Ariz. 564, 571, 691 P.2d 655, 662 (1984). ś 120 Here, the trial court ruled that the defendant proved good behavior while incarcerated. The trial court found, however, given the deliberate nature of the defendant's crimes and the circumstances of Cabral's murder, that this nonstatutory factor does not merit weight or call for leniency. We agree. 4. Emotional Immaturity and Impulsivity ś 121 Defendant claims that emotional immaturity and impulsivity, independent of age, amount to mitigation, pursuant to A.R.S. § 13-703(G)(5). The trial court ruled that [t]hese issues are covered by the court's discussion in [the] special verdict regarding age, impairment, dysfunctional family, and difficult childhood. The court rejected emotional immaturity and impulsivity as nonstatutory mitigating circumstances because, as noted, defendant's claim is refuted by the record. Defendant tested at an average level of intelligence, had extensive prior criminal involvement, and mental judgment was demonstrated by preplanning the present crime. The trial court stated: [T]he fact that the defendant did not kill [Cabral] at the time of the car-jacking but instead waited for approximately 30 minutes to get her to a remote area in the desert for the killing shows deliberateness and an ability to delay gratification that refutes any claim of impulsiveness. ś 122 We agree with the trial court and reject the claim that defendant's emotional immaturity and impulsivity should be accepted as nonstatutory mitigation. As stated by the trial judge, defendant was in control of his behavior, knew what he was doing, and coldly planned and executed his plan for murder. Defendant has failed to establish mitigation on this claim.
ś 123 The process of weighing or reweighing aggravating and mitigating circumstances is not scientific, but, rather, inherently subjective. No mathematical formula exists which can be applied and none is required. Bible, 175 Ariz. at 608, 858 P.2d at 1211. The state has proven beyond a reasonable doubt the aggravating circumstance that this murder, a preplanned, deliberate killing, was committed with the motive and expectation of pecuniary gain. Defendant introduced evidence of age as a statutory mitigator, but we accord it insignificant weight, given defendant's range of adult experiences. We reject all other claims of statutory mitigation. Defendant failed to prove that he was mentally impaired, that he acted under duress, that he was a minor participant in the crime, that he could not foresee the victim's death as the logical result of his actions, or that he is a victim of unfair disparate treatment in light of his brother-in-law's lighter sentence. ś 124 Similarly, the evidence of nonstatutory mitigation, including dysfunctional family, difficult childhood, antisocial or borderline personality disorder, and good behavior while incarcerated, is insufficient. Importantly, because we find that defendant failed to prove a mental disorder as the demonstrable cause of the Crystel Cabral murder, we conclude that all mitigation evidence, viewed separately or collectively, is insufficient to warrant a reduction in sentence.