Opinion ID: 1694183
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Failure to Present Mitigation Evidence Regarding Happ's Drug Abuse History

Text: Happ also alleges that his trial counsel was ineffective during the penalty phase for failing to present mitigation evidence concerning his drug abuse history. The trial court denied this claim after the evidentiary hearing as follows: Appellant called Alexander Martin who was qualified as an expert within the field of psychopharmacology and addictions and the general effects of drugs on the human brain. Happ self-reported significant poli-substance usage during Martin's first interview of March 21, 2000. This witness['s] testimony is totally unpersuasive because he does not make a diagnosis. There was no independent corroboration of Happ's self-reported cocaine usage. This witness did not ask Happ what drugs he was using May 23, 1986, the date of the murder. Nor did he ask him if he [Happ] was under the influence of cocaine and cocaine psychosis when he murdered Angela Crowly. (Citations omitted.) At the evidentiary hearing, trial counsel testified that he did not believe that a jury in Lake County would accept drug usage as a mitigating factor, particularly where it was not tied into the crime. Happ has failed to meet his burden or otherwise demonstrate that the postconviction court erred. We deny this claim.