Opinion ID: 1264824
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency of the Evidence (RCW 10.95.130(2)(a))

Text: Elmore contends there was insufficient evidence to support a death verdict in light of the mitigating circumstances he offered at the hearing. In support of his argument, he directs us to the evidence of his good prison behavior, remorse, the fact that he turned himself in and pleaded guilty, his history as an abused child, and his lack of planning in carrying out the crime. In addressing the sufficiency of the evidence in a capital case, we determine whether sufficient evidence exists to support the jury's finding there were not sufficient circumstances meriting leniency. Stenson, 132 Wash.2d at 756, 940 P.2d 1239. The test is whether, after viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the State, any rational trier of fact could have found sufficient evidence to justify the jury's finding beyond a reasonable doubt. Brown, 132 Wash.2d at 551, 940 P.2d 546. In applying this test, we do not duplicate the jury's role and reweigh the aggravating circumstances against the mitigating factors, but rather we consider the circumstances of the crime along with any mitigating factors and determine whether a rational jury could have concluded the mitigating circumstances do not outweigh the circumstances of the crime. Dodd, 120 Wash.2d at 24-25, 838 P.2d 86; Rice, 110 Wash.2d at 623-25, 757 P.2d 889; State v. Hansen, 122 Wash.2d at 718, 862 P.2d 117 (State entitled to all inferences that can be reasonably drawn from evidence). The mere presence of mitigating circumstances does not require reversal if the jury is convinced the circumstances of the crime outweigh the proposed mitigating factors. Brown, 132 Wash.2d at 553, 940 P.2d 546. Elmore's crime was particularly egregious. Elmore was entrusted to drive Kristy to school. After an argument with Kristy that morning, during which she again mentioned her prior molestation, Elmore, however, did not drop her off at school, but continued driving until he reached a remote location at Lake Samish. Until they reached the remote location, Kristy had no idea what her stepfather had planned for her. Elmore then pulled Kristy into the back of his van where he forcefully removed her clothes. Not strong enough to resist Elmore, Kristy pleaded with him not to do this again and cried as Elmore raped her. Elmore then beat Kristy in the face, choking her first with his hands, and then with her own belt. Kristy was still making noises, so Elmore jammed a long needle-like tool into her left ear and through her brain. Believing Kristy might still be alive, Elmore placed a garbage bag over her head and bludgeoned her skull repeatedly with a sledgehammer. After making sure Kristy was dead, Elmore dragged her body into the woods, draped a drop cloth over her and drove away. Searchers discovered Kristy's deteriorating body three days later. Elmore used his role as Kristy's stepfather to facilitate her molestation, rape and murder. His abuse of authority, his relationship with Kristy, her young age, and the brutality of the abuse and murder intensify the heinous nature of his crime. In an attempt to conceal his actions, Elmore also mislead police and lied to Kristy's mother. He then fled when he realized Kristy's body was about to be discovered. Elmore offered mitigating testimony from several judges and an investigator from the public defender's office. The judges described Elmore's dejected demeanor during court appearances and indicated Elmore appeared willing to plead guilty. Elmore had a difficult childhood; his parents argued constantly and his father had an alcohol problem and was not steadily employed. Elmore's father disciplined the children with a belt. Elmore dropped out of school in the 11th grade, joined the Army, and was discharged in 1972 after serving in Vietnam. The defense also argued Elmore's three felony convictions were insignificant because they would have washed-out under the SRA and did not constitute predicate strikes under the 3 strikes statute. The defense would characterize Elmore's criminal history as more of a mitigating factor rather than a consideration weighing against leniency. Viewing all the evidence in the light most favorable to the State, a rational trier of fact could have found sufficient evidence to support the jury's finding that Elmore did not merit leniency. Overcoming the setbacks of childhood and serving his country, while admirable, does not excuse or explain the heinous nature of the crime he committed. Nor does Elmore's assertion that his criminal history does not qualify as strikes or would washout under an irrelevant sentencing statute necessarily turn his criminal history into a mitigating factor. Likewise, a rational trier of fact could have interpreted Elmore's defeated appearance not as remorse or repentance, but rather as recognition he faced life imprisonment or death because of his crime. The fact that Elmore pleaded guilty does not necessitate a verdict of life imprisonment. Cf. Report of the Trial Judge, State v. Dodd, No. 89-1-01134-4 (Clark County Super. Ct. July 26, 1990). A rational jury could well have discounted Elmore's mitigating evidence in light of the exceptionally brutal nature of his crime. As the record contains sufficient evidence to support the jury's finding that Elmore did not deserve leniency, the requirements of RCW 10.95.130(2)(a) are met.