Court Opinion

ID: 9539089
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 07:46:33.374394+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:58:26.572418
License: Public Domain

PARKS, Presiding Judge,
specially concurring:
Although I concur in the affirmance of the judgment and sentence of the appel*900lant, I am compelled to address several instances of improper conduct on the part of the District Attorney for Carter County. First, the improper appeals to societal alarm asserting that, unless the appellant was punished, the community, county and State would be threatened with “chaos and anarchy” are clearly improper and unnecessary. See Cobbs v. State, 629 P.2d 368, 369 (Okl.Cr.1981). See also Henderson v. State, 716 P.2d 691, 693 (Okl.Cr.1986) (Parks, P.J., concurring in part, dissenting in part). Second, the prosecutor improperly asked the jury to punish the appellant “as vengeance for the family that is specifically hurt, vengeance for the community to set an example ...” See Scott v. State, 649 P.2d 560, 564 (Okl.Cr.1982) (“The vindication of community outrage has been criticized by this Court in Franks v. State, 636 P.2d 361 (1981).”).
It is difficult to understand why the State would risk reversal or modification by making such clearly improper and unnecessary comments during closing argument. However, in light of the strong evidence of guilt, the failure to make timely objections and requests for admonishments to disregard, and the failure to show prejudice, it is unnecessary to reverse or modify the conviction. See Elvaker v. State, 707 P.2d 1205, 1207 (Okl.Cr.1985); Brodbent v. State, 700 P.2d 1021, 1022 (Okl. Cr.1985).
I also write separately to express my view that the application of 21 O.S.Supp. 1985, § 701.13(C), which became effective July 16,1985, to cases pending on appeal at the time the statute was passed renders the enactment an ex post facto law. See Green v. State, 713 P.2d 1032, 1041 n. 4 (Okl.Cr.1985). See also Foster v. State, 714 P.2d 1031, 1042 (Okl.Cr.1986) (Parks, P.J., specially concurring). Nevertheless, I have compared the sentences imposed herein with those previous cases either affirmed1 or modified2 by this Court, and find the sentence to be proper.

. Smith v. State, 727 P.2d 1366 (Okl.Cr.1986); Thompson v. State, 724 P.2d 780 (Okl.Cr.1986); Walker v. State, 723 P.2d 273 (Okl.Cr.1986); VanWoundenberg v. State, 720 P.2d 328 (Okl.Cr.1986); Newsted v. State, 720 P.2d 734 (Okl.Cr.1986); Brewer v. State, 718 P.2d 354 (Okl.Cr.1986); Ross v. State, 717 P.2d 117 (Okl.Cr.1986); Bowen v. State, 715 P.2d 1093 (Okl.Cr.1984); Foster v. State, 714 P.2d 1031 (Okl.Cr.1986); Green v. State, 713 P.2d 1032 (Okl.Cr.1985); Liles v. State, 702 P.2d 1025 (Okl.Cr.1985); Banks v. State, 701 P.2d 418 (Okl.Cr.1985); Cooks v. State, 699 P.2d 653 (Okl.Cr.1985); Cartwright v. State, 695 P.2d 548 (Okl.Cr.1985); Brogie v. State, 695 P.2d 538 (Okl.Cr.1985); Stout v. State, 693 P.2d 617 (Okl.Cr.1984); Nuckols v. State, 690 P.2d 463 (Okl.Cr.1984); Robison v. State, 677 P.2d 1080 (Okl.Cr. 1984); Dutton v. State, 674 P.2d 1134 (Okl.Cr.1984); Stafford v. State, 669 P.2d 285 (Okl.Cr.1983); Coleman v. State, 668 P.2d 1126 (Okl.Cr.1983); Stafford v. State, 665 P.2d 1205 (Okl.Cr.1983); Davis v. State, 665 P.2d 1186 (Okl.Cr.1983); Ake v. State, 663 P.2d 1 (Okl.Cr.1983); Parks v. State, 651 P.2d 686 (Okl.Cr.1982); Jones v. State, 648 P.2d 1251 (Okl.Cr.1982); Hays v. State, 617 P.2d 223 (Okl.Cr.1980); Chaney v. State, 612 P.2d 269 (Okl.Cr.1980), modified on other grounds sub nom. Chaney v. Brown, 730 F.2d 1334 (10th Cir.1984).

. Parker v. State, 713 P.2d 1032 (Okl.Cr.1985); Kelly v. State, 692 P.2d 563 (Okl.Cr.1984); Eddings v. State, 616 P.2d 1159 (Okl.Cr.1980), modified, 688 P.2d 342 (Okl.Cr.1984); Morgan v. State, No. F-79-487 (Okl.Cr. Nov. 14, 1983) (Unpublished); Johnson v. State, 665 P.2d 815 (Okl.Cr.1982); Glidewell v. State, 663 P.2d 738 (Okl.Cr.1983); Jones v. State, 660 P.2d 634 (Okl.Cr.1983); Driskell v. State, 659 P.2d 343 (Okl.Cr.1983); Boutwell v. State, 659 P.2d 322 (Okl.1983); Munn v. State, 658 P.2d 482 (Okl.Cr.1983); Odum v. State, 651 P.2d 703 (Okl.Cr.1982); Burrows v. State, 640 P.2d 533 (Okl.Cr.1982); Franks v. State, 636 P.2d 361 (Okl.Cr.1981); Irvin v. State, 617 P.2d 588 (Okl.Cr.1980).