Opinion ID: 1624316
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 24

Heading: Arbitrary or Disproportionate

Text: The death sentence imposed on Wheeler was not arbitrarily or disproportionately applied in this case. There is no constitutional infirmity in the manner in which the proportionality review is conducted by this Court. Bowling. Here, the jury found the existence of an aggravating factor in each case, and death is the appropriate sentence. See Smith v. Commonwealth, Ky., 599 S.W.2d 900 (1980). A careful review of the record supports the ultimate jury decision. The jury knew that Wheeler had been convicted of ten counts of first-degree robbery in 1991 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. In 1998, he was convicted of cocaine possession and sentenced to one year consecutive to the 20-year term. The jury also heard evidence of the good behavior of the accused while he was in prison. The weight to be given to any mitigating circumstances is within the sound discretion of the sentencing jury. Here, the death sentence is proper under the factual circumstances. Cf. Tuilaepa v. California, 512 U.S. 967, 114 S.Ct. 2630, 129 L.Ed.2d 750 (1994).