Opinion ID: 3066031
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mitigation Investigation

Text: Following the guilty verdicts, the state trial court approved funds to hire a mitigation specialist to assist in preparing for Poyson’s sentencing. Counsel retained investigator Blair Abbott. In a June 1998 memorandum, Abbott informed counsel that Poyson’s mother, Ruth Garcia (Garcia), used drugs during the first trimester of her pregnancy and recommended that counsel investigate the possibility that Poyson suffered brain damage as a result. The memorandum advised counsel that “one of the significant issues should be the hard core drug abuse of both [of Poyson’s] parents, preconception and in the first trimester of Ruth’s pregnancy.” Abbott wrote that “Ruth Garcia’s heavy drug abuse in the pre pregnancy and early on in the pregnancy undoubtedly caused severe damage to her unborn child.” In September 1998, Abbott mailed trial counsel “Library & Internet research regarding drug & alcohol fetal cell damage; reflecting how these chemicals when taken in the first trimester [a]ffect subsequent intelligence, conduct, emotions, urges etc [sic] as the child grows into adulthood.”