Opinion ID: 1176143
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Evidentiary Standard at Presentence Hearing

Text: ¶ 40 Defendant argues that the trial court applied the wrong standard to the evidence of aggravation and thus allowed introduction of irrelevant and prejudicial information. He reasons that the court must have improperly considered irrelevant and prejudicial evidence because the judge stated immediately before sentencing that he had considered all the testimony and evidence presented, and the judge failed to find mitigation. ¶ 41 We presume the trial court disregards all inadmissible evidence in reaching a decision. State v. Gonzales, 111 Ariz. 38, 41, 523 P.2d 66, 69 (1974) (citing State v. Garcia, 97 Ariz. 102, 397 P.2d 214 (1964)); see also State v. Cameron, 146 Ariz. 210, 215, 704 P.2d 1355, 1360 (App.1985). The plain statement that a trial court considers all the evidence does not suggest an improper decision. Nothing in this record indicates that the judge accorded weight to irrelevant or prejudicial evidence. Indeed, the record is devoid of such matters. ¶ 42 We hold that the trial judge's statement that he considered all evidence and found no mitigating factors will not rebut the presumption that inadmissible evidence was disregarded. In practical terms, the argument is wholly non-meritorious.