Opinion ID: 1126715
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: use of other crimes evidence at sentencing hearing

Text: Davis contends that the trial court erred in allowing the state to introduce other crimes evidence at the sentencing hearing. After a hearing on the use of other crimes evidence, the trial court ruled that the state would not be allowed to use evidence of the armed robbery/attempted murder of Johnny Hall, which occurred about 45 minutes after the Mark Sanchez murder, in the guilt phase of the trial, but would be permitted to introduce this evidence and evidence of the armed robbery/assault of Mark Lavigne during the penalty phase of the trial. A. The following shall be considered aggravating circumstances: . . . . . (3) The offender has been previously convicted of ... armed robbery . . . . . La.C.Cr.P. Art. 905.4 Davis incorrectly asserts that his guilty plea to armed robbery in the Lavigne incident did not constitute an admissible previous conviction because he did not plead guilty until after the instant offenses even though the armed robbery occurred before the instant offenses. This court recently answered Davis's contention. A conviction for a murder committed after the murder for which the defendant was on trial can support the finding of the aggravating circumstance, [that the defendant had been previously convicted of an unrelated murder], when the conviction of the later murder occurred before the sentencing phase of the trial of the first murder. State v. Wille, 559 So.2d 1321 (La.1993), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 113 S.Ct. 231, 121 L.Ed.2d 167 (1992). Davis also asserts that unadjudicated armed robbery/attempted murder of Johnny Hall is not a true aggravating circumstance and that he was sentenced to death solely because of his alleged bad character. He asserts that he has not been convicted of the crimes against Johnny Hall. [A] sentencing hearing shall focus on the circumstances of the offense and the character and propensities of the offender.... Evidence relative to aggravating or mitigating circumstances shall be relevant irrespective of whether the defendant places his character at issue.... The jury may consider any evidence offered at the trial on the issue of guilt.... La.C.Cr.P. Art. 905.2. Unadjudicated crimes committed by a defendant, and proved by clear and convincing evidence, can be used during the sentencing phase of a capital murder trial. State v. Brooks, 541 So.2d 801 (La.1989). [E]vidence of unadjudicated crimes at the sentencing phase of the trial will be admissible once a trial court determines: 1) the evidence of defendant's connection with the commission of the unrelated crimes is clear and convincing; 2) the proffered evidence is otherwise competent and reliable; and 3) the unrelated crimes have relevance and substantial probative value as to the defendant's character and propensities, which is the focus of the sentencing hearing... State v. Brooks, supra at 814. In the sentencing phase of a trial, capital or otherwise, the probative value of character evidence is extremely high, since the character and propensities of the defendant are the principal inquiry, and the unquestionably devastating prejudicial effect does not outweigh such high probative value. State v. Jordan, 440 So.2d 716, 722 (La.1983). Crimes of violence against the person indicate moral qualities and character traits pertinent to propensity to commit first degree murder. State v. Jackson, 608 So.2d 949 (La.1992). The primary limitation placed on this type of evidence is remoteness of the evidence. Jackson specifically limited the criminal conduct which the prosecutor could introduce evidence to that conduct which the period of limitation for instituting prosecution had not run at the time of the indictment of the offense under consideration. Evidence of the Hall armed robbery/attempted murder was not remote and was relevant and helpful to the jury's determination of the appropriate sentence to be imposed after guilt had been decided. The Lavigne and Hall armed robberies occurred within a week of the Sanchez and Moore murders and were not prescribed when Davis was indicted for the murders. Moreover, the unadjudicated Hall shooting was clearly admissible and proved by reliable and competent evidence. Hall positively identified Davis. The cartridge found at the scene during the Hall investigation was fired by Davis's pistol. The trial court did not err in allowing evidence of the two prior offenses at the sentencing hearing. The evidence that Davis committed the crimes against Hall was clear and convincing. Davis was convicted by his plea of guilty to the crime against Lavigne.