Opinion ID: 1707925
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: During the Course of a Kidnapping Aggravating Circumstance

Text: The trial court found that Crawford's murder was committed while Pearce was engaged in or an accomplice in the commission of the crime of kidnapping. Pearce argues that the trial court erred in finding this aggravating circumstance as it was not proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Section 921.141(5)(d), Florida Statutes (1999), provides that it is an aggravating circumstance if [t]he capital felony was committed while the defendant was engaged in, or was an accomplice, in the commission of ... any ... kidnapping. On appeal, this Court does not reweigh the evidence to determine whether the State proved each aggravating circumstance beyond a reasonable doubt  that is the trial court's job. Rather, this Court reviews the record to determine whether the trial court applied the right rule of law for each aggravating circumstance and, if so, whether competent, substantial evidence supports its finding. Alston v. State, 723 So.2d 148, 160 (Fla.1998). To establish the during the commission of a kidnapping aggravating circumstance, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt each of the elements of kidnapping. Anderson v. State, 841 So.2d 390, 404 (Fla.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 124 S.Ct. 408, 157 L.Ed.2d 292 (2003). As discussed above, the evidence supports the trial court's finding of this aggravating circumstance. Tuttle, Havner, and other witnesses testified that Pearce held the victims against their will with a threat of violence and that he also ordered them to get in his car against their will. Pearce had no lawful authority to do so. Even assuming that Pearce did not originally intend to kill the victims, he clearly intended to inflict bodily harm upon them as evidenced by his statement to Loucks that he meant to rough up the victims and teach them a lesson. See § 787.01(1)(a)(3), Fla. Stat. (1999). Pearce also argues that his death sentence is not appropriate under the Supreme Court's rulings in Enmund v. Florida, 458 U.S. 782, 102 S.Ct. 3368, 73 L.Ed.2d 1140 (1982), and Tison v. Arizona, 481 U.S. 137, 107 S.Ct. 1676, 95 L.Ed.2d 127 (1987). In Enmund, the United States Supreme Court held that the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution does not permit imposition of the death penalty on a defendant who aids and abets a felony in the course of which a murder is committed by others but who does not himself kill, attempt to kill, or intend that a killing take place or that lethal force will be employed. 458 U.S. at 797, 102 S.Ct. 3368. In Tison, the Supreme Court expanded the Enmund culpability requirement for imposing a death sentence under a felony murder theory to include major participation in the felony committed, combined with reckless indifference to human life. 481 U.S. at 158, 107 S.Ct. 1676; see also Franqui v. State, 804 So.2d 1185, 1206 n. 12 (Fla. 2001). While the trial court did not engage in a specific Enmund/Tison analysis in its sentencing order, the court did analyze the role of Pearce and his culpability in this crime. Diaz v. State, 513 So.2d 1045, 1048 n. 2 (Fla.1987) (requiring trial courts to include in their sentencing orders findings supporting the Enmund/Tison culpability requirement). As explained in detail in the sentencing order and as supported by the evidence in this case, Pearce's role in the murder satisfies the Enmund/Tison requirements. Pearce was a major participant in the underlying felony of kidnapping and orchestrated the events leading to [the victim's] death. Lebron v. State, 799 So.2d 997, 1020 (Fla.2001). Additionally, where there is substantial, competent evidence to uphold a conviction under a premeditation theory, Enmund/Tison is not applicable. See Teffeteller v. Dugger, 734 So.2d 1009, 1018 (Fla.1999). As explained above, the record in this case reveals sufficient circumstantial evidence from which the jury could have inferred premeditation by Pearce. Thus, we conclude that the trial court properly applied the aggravating circumstance of commission during the course of a kidnapping in this case.