Jack Leroy Cook III v. Commonwealth of Kentucky ( 2007 )

IMPORTANT NOTICE
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OPINION
THIS OPINION IS DESIGNATED "NOT TO BE PUBLISHED ."
PURSUANT TO THE RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
PROMULGATED BY THE SUPREME COURT, CR 76.28(4)(C),
THIS OPINION IS NOT TO BE PUBLISHED AND SHALL NOT BE
CITED OR USED AS BINDING PRECEDENT IN ANY OTHER
CASE IN ANY COURT OF THIS STATE; HOWEVER,
UNPUBLISHED KENTUCKY APPELLATE DECISIONS,
RENDERED AFTER JANUARY 1, 2003, MAY BE CITED FOR
CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IF THERE IS NO PUBLISHED
OPINION THAT WOULD ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE ISSUE
BEFORE THE COURT . OPINIONS CITED FOR CONSIDERATION
BY THE COURT SHALL BE SET OUT AS AN UNPUBLISHED
DECISION IN THE FILED DOCUMENT AND A COPY OF THE
ENTIRE DECISION SHALL BE TENDERED ALONG WITH THE
DOCUMENT TO THE COURT AND ALL PARTIES TO THE
ACTION.
RENDERED : APRIL 19, 2007
NOT TO BE PUBLISHED
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2005-SC-000833-MR
13A7
JACK LEROY COOK III APPELLANT
APPEAL FROM FAYETTE CIRCUIT COURT
V HONORABLE JAMES D . ISHMAEL, JR., JUDGE
INDICTMENT NO. 05-CR-00035
COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY APPELLEE
MEMORANDUM OPINION OF THE COURT
AFFIRMING
Appellant, Jack Leroy Cook III, was convicted by a Fayette Circuit jury of murder
and assault in the first degree . He was sentenced to thirty-six and twenty years'
imprisonment, respectively, to be run consecutively. He now appeals to this Court as a
matter of right, Ky. Const. § 110(2)(b), asserting two errors . For the reasons set forth
herein, we affirm .
Appellant was convicted of the murder of his father and the assault of his mother.
According to Mrs. Cook's testimony, Appellant arrived at the Cook home unannounced
and agitated about his living arrangements at the time. He had been attempting to
secure a rental home in Georgetown, which did not come to fruition . Apparently,
Appellant visited his parents' home to discuss the situation with his father. When he
learned that his father was not home, he left and returned about an hour later.
Following a brief conversation with Mr. Cook, Appellant departed for a second time .
About a half hour later, he reappeared for the third time, again to discuss his future
living arrangements . By this point, Appellant was extremely upset, frustrated, and
behaving irrationally . He shifted his anger towards his parents, whom he believed were
failing him by refusing to deed him a plot of land actually owned by Mrs. Cook's mother.
Though the Cooks repeatedly explained to Appellant that they did not own the land and
therefore could not transfer it to him, he would accept no explanation . According to Mrs .
Cook, this type of illogical thought and suspicious blaming was typical of Appellant . At
any rate, Appellant became enraged as he discussed the situation in the kitchen.
Though the Cooks were trying to appease Appellant - even phoning Mrs. Cook's
mother to secure the plot of land - Appellant removed a pistol from his pocket and shot
his mother and father.
Appellant left the home and drove to a fire department, where he revealed what
had occurred . The police arrived at the Cook home shortly thereafter, and transported
both victims to the hospital . Mr. Cook, who sustained four gunshot wounds, was
pronounced dead on arrival . Mrs . Cook, whose life was spared because her husband
leapt in front of her, suffered two shots in her right shoulder that required multiple
surgeries .
Appellant was thereafter indicted, tried, and found guilty of murder and assault in
the first degree . He now appeals to this Court as a matter of right, raising two issues for
review, both of which concern the penalty phase of his trial. First, Appellant argues that
the trial court abused its discretion in sentencing him contrary to the jury's
recommendation . Appellant also argues that the Commonwealth's penalty phase
closing argument contained an impermissible appeal to the community warranting a
mistrial . Finding no error, we affirm .
Appellant asserts three errors with respect to his sentence: (1) that the victim
impact statements contained testimonial hearsay in violation of Crawford v. Washington ,
541 U .S . 36, 124 S .Ct. 1354, 158 L.Ed .2d 177 (2004) ; (2) that he was given insufficient
notice that the victim impact statements would be considered ; and (3) that the trial court
abused its discretion by failing to adopt the recommendation of the jury. Appellant
concedes that these issues are unpreserved for appellate review, and requests relief
pursuant to Rules of Criminal Procedure (RCr) 10 .26 . Upon review of the matter, we
find no error.
We need not directly address Appellant's assertion that the victim impact
statements contained testimonial hearsay in violation of Crawford . While it is clear from
the record that the trial court considered victim impact statements as required by law,
Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 421 .520(3), it is equally clear that these statements did
not affect his decision to reject the jury's recommendation of concurrent sentences.
Before sentencing Appellant, the trial court specifically stated, "I have made my decision
independent of the victim impact statements or even from [the Commonwealth's] plea in
this matter." The court reiterated this sentiment at least three times during the
proceeding . Accordingly, there can be no palpable error resulting from these victim
impact statements where it is clear that they were not a significant part of the trial
court's consideration . RCr 10 .26 .
With respect to Appellant's claim that he was given insufficient notice of the
victim impact statements, we likewise find nothing to indicate that Appellant's
substantial rights were affected by this supposed delay. Though the Commonwealth
furnished these statements only two days prior to sentencing, defense counsel made no
objection and did not request a continuance . Appellant cannot now claim that he was
prejudiced when he failed to inform the trial court of the supposed error or to request
relief. West v. Commonwealth , 780 S .W.2d 600, 602 (Ky. 1989) . Furthermore, there is
no indication that Appellant's substantial rights were affected by this alleged error. RCr
10.26.
Finally, turning to Appellant's assertion that the trial court abused its discretion in
rejecting the jury's recommended sentence, we remind Appellant that the trial court is
under no duty to accept the recommendation of the jury as to whether the given
sentences should be run consecutively or concurrently . KRS 532.110 ; KRS 532.055(2) .
See also Dotson v. Commonwealth , 740 S .W .2d 930 (Ky. 1987) . So long as the
sentence falls within the range allowable by statute, the trial court enjoys significant
discretion in determining whether to run sentences concurrently or consecutively .
Here, there is no indication that the trial court abused its discretion in running
Appellant's sentences consecutively . The court explained its belief that, if the
sentences remained concurrent, it would be as if Appellant did not receive an
independent sentence for the very serious assault of Mrs. Cook. The court also stated
that it was particularly persuaded by the incredibly brutal, callous, and senseless nature
of the crime . A trial court abuses its discretion when its decision is arbitrary,
unreasonable, unfair or unsupported by sound legal principles . Commonwealth v.
English , 993 S.W.2d 941, 945 (Ky. 1999) . Here, it is evident that the trial court rendered
its decision following a thoughtful consideration of the circumstances . There was no
abuse of discretion and, therefore, no manifest injustice occurred . RCr 10.26 .
Appellant next argues that the Commonwealth's Attorney made an impermissible
plea to the community during its penalty phase closing argument . The issue is
preserved by defense counsel's request for a mistrial. Upon review of the record, we
find no error.
In the penalty phase closing argument, defense counsel urged the jury to
consider Appellant's childhood in its deliberations . According to defense counsel, the
Cooks had expected perfection from Appellant and failed to give him sufficient love and
respect . Defense counsel then drew a distinction between Appellant and other violent
criminals on the basis of his victims: that is, Appellant's crime was a "family thing" as
opposed to the killing of an innocent stranger. In response, the Commonwealth
reminded the jury of the cold-blooded nature of Appellant's actions and asked the jury to
"think in terms of your responsibility in this case as a representative of the community ."
Appellant requested a mistrial based on these statements, which the trial court denied .
Having reviewed the entirety of the closing arguments, we find no error. It is well
settled that both counsel are afforded considerable leeway in making closing
arguments . Wheeler v. Commonwealth , 121 S.W.3d 173, 180 (Ky. 2003). Here, the
Commonwealth's comments during its closing were in direct response to the content of
defense counsel's arguments . Moreover, the Commonwealth's statements regarding
the jurors' duty in no way approach the type of general plea to the community prohibited
in Ice v. Commonwealth , 667 S .W .2d 671, 676 (Ky. 1984) (prohibiting use of "send a
message" arguments wherein jury is asked to make an example of defendant in order to
send a message to others similarly situated). See also Brewer v. Commonwealth , 206
S.W.3d 343, 350 (Ky. 2006). The Commonwealth's closing argument was entirely
within legitimate parameters and, therefore, the trial court properly denied Appellant's
motion for a mistrial .
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the Fayette Circuit Court is affirmed .
All concur.
COUNSEL FOR APPELLANT :
Randall L. Wheeler
Assistant Public Advocate
Department of Public Advocacy
Suite 302, 100 Fair Oaks Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601
COUNSEL FOR APPELLEE :
Gregory D. Stumbo
Attorney General of Kentucky
Ken W. Riggs
Assistant Attorney General
Office of Criminal Appeals
1024 Capital Center Drive
Frankfort, KY 40601