Opinion ID: 2378023
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Issue 6: Sufficient evidence supports the hard 50 sentence.

Text: McCaslin claims that insufficient evidence exists to support the two aggravating circumstances the trial court relied upon when imposing the hard 50 sentence: (1) he committed the crime in an especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel manner; and (2) he committed the crime in order to avoid or prevent a lawful arrest or prosecution. The State responds that considerable evidence supports the court's determination. Our standard of review for this issue is as follows: ``When a defendant challenges the sufficiency of evidence establishing the existence of an aggravating circumstance in a hard 50 sentencing proceeding, the standard of review is whether, after a review of all the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution, a rational factfinder could have found the existence of the aggravating circumstance by a preponderance of the evidence.'' [Citation omitted.] Reid, 286 Kan. at 524, 186 P.3d 713. Hard 50 sentencing is authorized by K.S.A. 21-4635, which requires the court to weigh evidence of any mitigating circumstances against evidence of any aggravating circumstances. State v. Baker, 281 Kan. 997, 1018, 135 P.3d 1098 (2006). While the trial court found two of the aggravating circumstances identified in K.S.A. 21-4636, the court found no mitigating circumstances. And McCaslin asserts none on appeal. When determining whether sufficient evidence exists to support the first aggravating circumstance, that McCaslin committed the crime in an especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel manner, we observe that the trial court cited evidence indicating A.D. was alive when the fire was set. It also cited evidence that she suffered before she died; that she was stabbed approximately 13 times, including a deep slash in her throat; and that her body was desecrated, which indicates a particular depravity of the mind. The trial court also found that the crime inflicted mental anguish or physical abuse before A.D. died. We have held that stab wounds inflicted to maim, torture, or inflict pain could constitute the aggravating circumstance. State v. Johnson, 284 Kan. 18, 27, 159 P.3d 161 (2007), cert. denied 552 U.S. 1104, 128 S.Ct. 874, 169 L.Ed.2d 737 (2008) (citing State v. Follin, 263 Kan. 28, 51, 947 P.2d 8 [1997]). A.D.'s 13 stab wounds were similar in nature and location to those in Johnson, which involved the head, upper body, and forearmsincluding defensive wounds. A.D. was stabbed in her throat, upper torso, left and right breasts, left bicep, left forearm, upper back, and the back of her head. Some of her wounds were defensive. See State v. Hernandez, 284 Kan. 74, 107, 159 P.3d 950 (2007) (defensive stab wounds supported the aggravating circumstance because they indicated a violent attack and fear in the victim). McCaslin argues that multiple stab wounds do not necessarily constitute evidence that mental anguish was inflicted, citing Follin. Primarily due to the location and nature of A.D.'s stab wounds, we disagree; we follow our analysis in Johnson, where we rejected a similar reliance on Follin: However, we perceive the Follin court was persuaded by the precise manner in which the wounds were inflicted into the heart while avoiding the ribs, so as to expedite death and minimize the preceding pain and suffering. In contrast, the nature and location of [the victim's] multiple wounds suggest that they were repeatedly delivered in a random and forceful manner consistent with a desire to hurt the victim, rather than to effect a quick kill. 284 Kan. at 28, 159 P.3d 161. Even if the stab wounds alone were insufficient to support this aggravating circumstance, the events surrounding the fire demonstrate an especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel manner. After the repeated stabbings, A.D. was covered with citronella oil, a petroleum distillate, and set on fire while still alive. The circumstances of A.D.'s murder are clearly the type that K.S.A. 21-4636(f) contemplates. See State v. Flournoy, 272 Kan. 784, 793, 36 P.3d 273 (2001). In short, the standards of Reid have been met. We also conclude there was sufficient evidence to establish under Reid the second aggravating circumstance: that McCaslin murdered A.D. in order to avoid or prevent a lawful arrest or prosecution. McCaslin admitted that he had sexual intercourse with A.D.; indeed, his DNA was inside her. Therefore, consent became a primary issue for the jury. As noted in Issue 2, sufficient evidence supports the rape conviction, e.g., the location and condition of A.D.'s body and her torn and cut clothing. In particular, the timing of her murder establishes, like McCaslin's setting of the fire and disposing of his lighter and two sets of clothes, that the murder was just another one of his numerous steps of avoiding arrest. In summary, both aggravating circumstances are supported by the evidence. Because McCaslin does not advance any mitigating factors to weigh against them, the trial court properly imposed the hard 50 pursuant to K.S.A. 21-4635.