Opinion ID: 1201386
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: weighing of aggravating circumstances

Text: The trial judge found that the prior armed robbery was also an aggravating circumstance under A.R.S. § 13-703(F)(1) (prior felony punishable by life imprisonment). Henry therefore argues that the judge improperly weighed the armed robbery twice. State v. Tittle, 147 Ariz. 339, 345, 710 P.2d 449, 455 (1985) (trial court may weigh aggravating circumstance only once so as to avoid double punishment). The transcript of the sentencing hearing does not clearly reflect how the judge treated this matter. Because we have invalidated the prior involuntary manslaughter as a § 13-703(F)(2) aggravating circumstance, only the armed robbery remains as aggravation under either (F)(1) or (F)(2). On resentencing, the trial judge should clarify that this circumstance has been weighed only once.