Opinion ID: 1179512
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Inadequate Investigation of Mitigating Evidence

Text: Petitioner claims that trial counsel were ineffective in failing to investigate available evidence of his good character for the penalty trial. In November 1982, after the guilt trial, defense counsel hired an investigator to locate seven witnesses and to serve subpoenas on them to testify at the penalty trial. The investigator, who spoke little Spanish, was unable to locate five of the witnesses. Of the two located, one said he did not know petitioner well enough to testify and the other could not afford the loss of wages to testify. A declaration by petitioner's mother states that she had given defense counsel these seven names and that no one ever told her they were unable to locate any of them. She also gave counsel the names of other people who would have testified favorably about petitioner: Angelita Pulido, Augustina Rodriguez, Mr. and Mrs. Cruz Razo, and Lourdes Villegas. None of these persons was called as a witness. Jose Pena, a Spanish-speaking investigator hired by appellate counsel in 1986, was able to locate Trinidad Jara who stated she was living at the same address in the Kernita Trailer Park in 1982 that the previous investigator was unable to find. Pena contacted Angelita Pulido, Augustina Rodriguez, Inocencio and Cruz Razo, and Lourdes Villegas, all of whom said they were available to testify in 1982 but were never contacted. Pulido has been at the same address since 1978, when she first met petitioner and his family. Petitioner's younger brother lived with her while he was attending school. When petitioner was arrested, Pulido told his mother she would be willing to be a witness for him, but she was never contacted until 1986. She knows petitioner to be a hardworking, quiet, well-behaved, and truthful person. Mr. and Mrs. Razo have been living at the same address since 1955, were available to testify but were never contacted. A declaration by Mr. Razo states he has known petitioner and his family for 10 years. Petitioner is a gentle, quiet, hardworking young man. I know that Felipe does drink beer but he has always done it quietly and I have never seen him drunk and I am not aware of any incident of violence on Felipe's part. A declaration by Lourdes Villegas states that she and petitioner had dated for two years: I can think of nothing negative I can say about him. We were never sexually active and Felipe never acted improperly toward me. I had the highest regard for Felipe Sixto as a boyfriend and fellow worker.