Opinion ID: 1352137
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Consideration of Presentence Report

Text: Fierro claims that his death sentence is invalid because some of the information presented in the presentence report did not satisfy A.R.S. § 13-703(C), which requires information relevant to aggravating circumstances to comply with the rules that govern admission of evidence. The information complained of includes opinions of Moseley's son and his executor that Fierro should receive the death penalty, information that Fierro was under investigation for prior homicides, the opinion of Officer Marley that Fierro should die, information that Fierro had been deported, information about other scrapes with the law that did not rise to the level of the aggravating circumstances enumerated in A.R.S. § 13-703(F)(1), (2), and (8), evidence that Fierro was on parole, and negative impressions of a probation officer. The trial court based its finding of three aggravating circumstances on evidence presented at trial and evidence presented at a presentence hearing, at which Fierro was present and represented by counsel. The trial judge expressly stated that he did not consider the challenged information, which he recognized as irrelevant. R.T., Feb. 27, 1987, at 4, 78-79. It is presumed that a trial judge, aware of the rules of evidence, will not consider inadmissible evidence in making his ruling. State v. Hadd, 127 Ariz. 270, 619 P.2d 1047 (Ct.App. 1980). In State v. Beaty, we held that [a]bsent proof to the contrary, the trial judge in a capital case must be presumed to be able to focus on the relevant sentencing factors and to set aside the irrelevant, the inflammatory, and the emotional factors. 158 Ariz. 232, 244, 762 P.2d 519, 531 (1988). Fierro presented no evidence of the trial court's bias or prejudice in this case. Unless there is evidence to the contrary, we presume a judge is impartial and free of bias or prejudice. State v. Rossi (Rossi II), 154 Ariz. 245, 741 P.2d 1223 (1987). The trial judge acknowledged there was information in the presentence report he should not consider, and he assured Fierro that he would consider only the specific objective statutory criteria in determining the aggravating circumstances and the sentence. Because there is no evidence to the contrary, we conclude the judge did just what he said and disregarded the inadmissible material.