Opinion ID: 1620060
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Failure to Challenge the Introduction of Collateral Crime Evidence

Text: In his first issue in his petition for writ of habeas corpus, Peede argues that appellate counsel was ineffective because counsel failed to raise the issue that the trial court erred in admitting collateral crime evidence. Claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel are appropriately presented in a petition for writ of habeas corpus. See Freeman v. State, 761 So.2d 1055, 1069 (Fla.2000). Consistent with the Strickland standard, to grant habeas relief based on ineffectiveness of appellate counsel, this Court must determine first, whether the alleged omissions are of such magnitude as to constitute a serious error or substantial deficiency falling measurably outside the range of professionally acceptable performance and, second, whether the deficiency in performance compromised the appellate process to such a degree as to undermine confidence in the correctness of the result. Pope v. Wainwright, 496 So.2d 798, 800 (Fla.1986). In raising such a claim, [t]he defendant has the burden of alleging a specific, serious omission or overt act upon which the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel can be based. Freeman, 761 So.2d at 1069 (citing Knight v. State, 394 So.2d 997 (Fla.1981)). However, claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel may not be used to camouflage issues that should have been raised on direct appeal or in a postconviction motion. Rutherford v. Moore, 774 So.2d 637, 643 (Fla. 2000) (citing Thompson v. State, 759 So.2d 650, 657 n. 6 (Fla.2000); Hardwick v. Dugger, 648 So.2d 100, 106 (Fla.1994); Breedlove v. Singletary, 595 So.2d 8, 10 (Fla. 1992)). If a legal issue `would in all probability have been found to be without merit' had counsel raised the issue on direct appeal, the failure of appellate counsel to raise the meritless issue will not render appellate counsel's performance ineffective. Id. (quoting Williamson v. Dugger, 651 So.2d 84, 86 (Fla.1994) and citing Kokal v. Dugger, 718 So.2d 138, 142 (Fla.1998); Groover v. Singletary, 656 So.2d 424, 425 (Fla.1995)). First, Peede argues that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to argue on appeal that the trial court erred (1) in allowing Tanya Bullis, the victim's daughter, to testify that Darla had told her that she was afraid of Peede trying to kill her along with Geraldine and Calvin; (2) in allowing Rebecca Keniston, the victim's other daughter, to testify that the victim was worried Peede was going to kill Geraldine and a male person; (3) in allowing Geraldine Peede, Peede's second wife, to testify regarding the hostile contact she had with Peede; (4) in allowing Special Agent Kent Wilson to testify concerning a statement Peede made to him concerning his plans for killing Geraldine and Calvin after he killed Darla, and that Peede told him that at one point he planned to use Darla as a lure; and (5) in allowing Detective Ross Frederick to testify concerning a confiscated loaded shotgun from Peede's residence. Peede also argues that appellate counsel was ineffective in failing to argue that the trial court erred in allowing pornographic magazines and photographs into evidence [5] and that the prosecutor improperly relied on the above evidence to confuse and anger the jury. A trial court's ruling on the relevancy of evidence and whether or not the probative value is outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice is governed by an abuse of discretion standard of review. Williamson v. State, 681 So.2d 688, 696 (Fla.1996). First, concerning the victim's daughters' testimony, appellate counsel did challenge Tanya Bullis's testimony on hearsay grounds on direct appeal and this Court rejected the argument, finding that Peede failed to object to two of Bullis's statements, causing the issue to be unpreserved for appeal, and finding that the testimony was relevant to the victim's state of mind. Peede I, 474 So.2d at 816. Therefore, this issue is procedurally barred. See Fotopoulos v. State, 838 So.2d 1122, 1135-36 (Fla.2002) (holding that habeas corpus petitions are not to be used for additional appeals on questions which could have been, should have been, or were raised on appeal) (quoting Parker v. Dugger, 550 So.2d 459, 460 (Fla.1989)). Concerning Rebecca Keniston's testimony, the State is correct that defense counsel only objected to this testimony on the basis of double hearsay and not on the relevancy grounds now asserted. Appellate counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to raise an unpreserved issue on appeal. Regarding Geraldine's testimony, in Muhammad v. State, 782 So.2d 343 (Fla.2001), this Court held that a defendant's threats to a non-victim are admissible when relevant to prove a material issue, as long as the probative value of the evidence outweighs any undue prejudice. Id. at 358 (citing Pittman v. State, 646 So.2d 167, 170-71 (Fla.1994)). This Court held that the evidence of [a] threat was admissible to establish the motive and intent for the murder. Id. The State correctly asserts that Geraldine's testimony helped describe the motive to kidnap Darla as part of Peede's plan to murder Geraldine and Calvin. See Buenoano v. State, 527 So.2d 194, 197 (Fla.1988) (finding collateral crime evidence admissible to prove motive); Williams v. State, 110 So.2d 654, 659-60 (Fla.1959) (holding that evidence is admissible if relevant to show motive). The State further asserts this testimony was relevant because it served to corroborate Peede's confession, in which he stated his intent to do what he wanted to do to these other two people, which was kill them because he thought he saw them posing together in a swinger magazine. Peede said at one point that he intended to use Darla to lure them to a motel where he could kill them. See Thompson v. State, 565 So.2d 1311, 1315 (Fla.1990) (finding that admitted photographs were relevant to show that the defendant's out-of-court confessions were consistent with the evidence found at the crime scene); Newell v. State, 772 So.2d 597, 598 (Fla. 5th DCA 2000) (holding that evidence became relevant to corroborate the purported confession). We find merit in the State's contentions. While Peede argues that the prosecutor needlessly relied on the uncharged attempted murders of Geraldine and Calvin, this Court has held that evidence of uncharged crimes can be admitted if inseparable from the crime for which the defendant is being tried. See Smith v. State, 699 So.2d 629, 645 (Fla.1997) (holding that evidence of an uncharged sexual battery was relevant as an inseparable part of the criminal episode at issue and not unduly prejudicial) (citing § 90.402, Fla. Stat. (1989); Griffin v. State, 639 So.2d 966, 968-69 (Fla.1994)); Straight v. State, 397 So.2d 903, 908 (Fla.1981) ([E]vidence of criminal activity not charged is admissible if relevant to an issue of material fact.). Among the purposes for which a collateral crime may be admitted is establishment of the entire context out of which the criminal action occurred. Hunter, 660 So.2d at 251 (citing Heiney v. State, 447 So.2d 210, 213-14 (Fla.1984); Ruffin v. State, 397 So.2d 277 (Fla.1981); Smith v. State, 365 So.2d 704 (Fla.1978); Ashley v. State, 265 So.2d 685, 693-94 (Fla.1972)). Similarly, we agree the trial court did not err in allowing Special Agent Kent Wilson's testimony regarding Peede's statements about killing Geraldine and Calvin because the incident was inextricably intertwined with the rest of the criminal episode and the State was properly allowed to establish context in which the current homicide took place. Finally, Detective Ross Fredericks' testimony regarding the shotgun he confiscated from Peede's residence fits with the rest of the story of this crime, and also serves as evidence of consciousness of guilt. See Anderson v. State, 574 So.2d 87, 93 n. 4 (Fla.1991) (Proof of a defendant's acts related to the offense charged is admissible to prove a defendant's acknowledgement of guilt.).