Opinion ID: 1058303
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: record of conviction with death sentence displayed

Text: Because we have remanded this case for resentencing, in order to provide guidance to the circuit court, it is necessary that we address Prieto's objection to the introduction of the record of his capital murder conviction from California which contained information that he was sentenced to death for the California murder. Prior to the start of the sentencing phase, Prieto objected to the inclusion of information regarding his death sentence in California, which was displayed in his criminal record that the Commonwealth sought to submit to the jury. The circuit court overruled Prieto's objection and admitted the documents into evidence. Prieto argues that the admission of his previous death sentence was irrelevant to his future dangerousness and undermined the jury's obligation to consider the mitigating evidence. Prieto contends that informing the jury that a defendant has already been sentenced to death also undermines the fairness of the penalty proceeding. The Commonwealth responds that this issue has been decided by this Court in Bassett v. Commonwealth, 222 Va. 844, 284 S.E.2d 844 (1981), cert. denied, 456 U.S. 938, 102 S.Ct. 1996, 72 L.Ed.2d 458 (1982), and thus the circuit court's admission of Prieto's criminal record was proper. The Commonwealth argues it is speculation that knowledge of an already existing death penalty might trivialize the jury's decision, so that the jury might impose a death sentence with less deliberation if it knows that the defendant has already been sentenced to death. We agree with the Commonwealth's arguments on this issue. Code § 19.2-264.4(B), which addresses the scope of admissible evidence in the sentencing phase of a capital murder trial, provides, in pertinent part: In cases of trial by jury, evidence may be presented as to any matter which the court deems relevant to sentence, except that reports under the provisions of § 19.2-299, or under any rule of court, shall not be admitted into evidence. Evidence which may be admissible, subject to the rules of evidence governing admissibility, may include the circumstances surrounding the offense, the history and background of the defendant, and any other facts in mitigation of the offense. Additionally, Code § 19.2-295.1 provides that upon a finding that a defendant is guilty of a felony, the Commonwealth shall present the defendant's prior criminal history, including prior convictions and the punishments imposed, by certified, attested or exemplified copies of the final order, including adult convictions. In Bassett, we addressed whether the circuit court properly admitted the defendant's prior sentence and conviction for armed robbery during the penalty phase of his capital murder trial. 222 Va. at 858, 284 S.E.2d at 853. We held that the evidence was admissible, noting that [t]he sentence reflects the gravity of the offense and the offender's propensity for violence. Id. While the sentence in Bassett was not a death sentence, the same rationale applies to allowing the circuit court to admit a defendant's prior conviction that includes a death sentence to establish the aggravating factor of the defendant's future dangerousness. We also agree with the Commonwealth that it is entirely speculative whether knowledge of an existing sentence of death would make a jury more or less likely to impose a second death sentence. We believe that Virginia jurors will be able to follow the instructions of the court and to render a verdict according to the dictates of their individual consciences. Accordingly, the circuit court did not err in admitting Prieto's criminal record which included his death sentence in California.