Richard Allen Johnson v. Michael D. Crews, etc.

Supreme Court of Florida
____________
No. SC12-1204
____________
RICHARD ALLEN JOHNSON,
Appellant,
vs.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
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No. SC12-2464
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RICHARD ALLEN JOHNSON,
Petitioner,
vs.
MICHAEL D. CREWS, etc.,
Respondent.
[January 9, 2014]
PER CURIAM.
Richard Allen Johnson, who was twenty-three years old at the time of the
crime, was convicted of the first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery
with great force of Tammy Hagin. This Court affirmed his convictions and
sentence of death on direct appeal. Johnson v. State, 969 So. 2d 938, 962 (Fla.
2007). Johnson now appeals the denial of his initial motion for postconviction
relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851 and petitions this
Court for a writ of habeas corpus. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 3(b)(1), (9),
Fla. Const. For the reasons that follow, we affirm the postconviction court’s denial
of relief and deny Johnson’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
On direct appeal, this Court summarized the facts underlying this crime as
follows:
The victim in this case is Tammy Hagin. Johnson met Hagin
on the evening of February 14, 2001, at a nightclub in Port St. Lucie.
After Johnson and Hagin spent several hours together at the club, she
accompanied Johnson to a residence he was sharing with others,
including Johnson’s roommate, John Vitale. Hagin and Johnson had
several drinks at the club and left with a bottle of rum Johnson
purchased. Hagin’s brother and a friend, who were also at the club,
followed in another car. Hagin and Johnson began drinking from the
bottle on the drive to Johnson’s residence. At the house, Johnson and
his guests had mixed drinks and played pool for several hours.
Hagin’s brother and friend left after Johnson assured them he would
get Hagin home. In the early morning hours of February 15, Vitale
agreed to drive Hagin home to Vero Beach. Johnson, who did not
have a driver’s license, also went along. Hagin was ambivalent about
returning home. The threesome went to Savannas State Preserve, a
park where Johnson and Hagin had consensual sex while Vitale
waited a short distance away. Afterward, Hagin remained uncertain
whether she wanted to go home, so Vitale returned to the house in
Port St. Lucie.
There an argument ensued. A neighbor, Catherine Shipp, heard
a woman screaming. When Shipp opened her front door a few
minutes later, she heard the woman say, “I want to go home. Just let
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me go.” Shipp saw Johnson and Vitale outside the car, holding the
car doors to prevent Hagin from exiting. According to Shipp, Hagin
ultimately got out of the car. Johnson grabbed her from behind,
picked her up, and took her inside the house. The woman kicked her
feet, grabbed the door frame, and yelled, “I don’t want to go in and
clean up.”
The commotion involving Hagin awoke other residents in the
house where Johnson and Vitale were living. Thomas Beakley shared
a bedroom with his girlfriend, Stacy Denigris, next to the bedroom
Johnson shared with Vitale. Beakley heard a woman scream and then
cry, and awoke Denigris, who left the room to check on the noise.
Awakened by Beakley, Denigris heard a girl cry and say that she
wanted to go home. Denigris opened the bedroom door to see a
woman with brown hair holding onto the door frame of Johnson’s
bedroom. Johnson grabbed the woman from behind and yanked her
into the bedroom. Denigris then saw Vitale in the garage, where the
pool table and seating area were located, spoke to him there for a few
minutes, and returned to bed.
Vitale, who had agreed to plead guilty to accessory to murder
for a twenty-two-year sentencing cap, testified for the State. He stated
that Hagin was loudly demanding to go to the bathroom and be taken
home at the point when Johnson pulled her into his bedroom on the
morning of February 15. The house then became quiet, and Vitale lay
on the couch. Johnson eventually emerged from the bedroom and
went into the bathroom. Vitale looked into the bedroom and saw that
Hagin appeared to be sleeping. Johnson came out of the bathroom,
found Vitale in the garage, and told him that Hagin was “gone.”
Asked what he meant, Johnson said he had broken her neck. Vitale
testified that Johnson eventually told him that it takes longer to break
someone’s neck than he thought, and—over defense objection—that
Hagin said as she was being strangled that she wanted to see her
children.
Acting together, Johnson and Vitale wrapped Hagin’s body in a
deflated air mattress and placed it in the trunk of Vitale’s car. The
two men attempted to enlist the help of Johnson’s friend, Shane Bien,
in disposing of the body at sea. Bien allowed Johnson to call boat
rental businesses and gave Johnson a fishing pole so it would appear
they were fishing as they disposed of the body. According to Bien,
Johnson said he’d killed a woman who was “the most annoying
person he had ever met” and who “had tried to stab him with an
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object.” Johnson showed Bien the outline of a body wrapped in an air
mattress in the trunk of Vitale’s car.
Using money from Hagin’s purse, Johnson and Vitale
purchased a large cooler, [three] concrete blocks, a chain, and a
padlock. They returned to the Savannas State Preserve, where they
[rented a canoe and] submerged the body in several feet of water
[attached to three concrete blocks, a chain, and a padlock. Records at
the state park reflected that Vitale had rented a canoe the day of the
murder. 1] A fisherman discovered the body three days later.
[Vitale and Johnson moved into a different residence the day of
the murder; the move had been prearranged. The person with whom
they moved in testified that Vitale and Johnson had a large cooler
when they moved into the house. She also witnessed them washing
Vitale’s vehicle, bleaching the floor mats, and tearing out a cushion
on the back seat.]
Medical examiner Charles Diggs testified that Hagin died of
strangulation in which the killer used both a ligature and a bare hand.
Diggs testified that a strangulation victim starts to lose consciousness
within fifteen to thirty seconds and that death occurs within three to
four minutes. Hagin also had a superficial premortem cut on her scalp
that was consistent with a knife wound, and bruises on her forehead
and chin. There was also a postmortem laceration of her perineum,
including the uterus, bladder, and vulva. Diggs could not rule out
marine life as the cause of the damage to the perineum, although he
said that marine animals will usually attack more than one area of the
body. No semen was discovered in what remained of Hagin’s vagina
or uterus. Her blood alcohol level was .186, of which .04 to .06 could
have been the result of decomposition.
Johnson and Vitale were both arrested within days of the
discovery of Hagin’s body. Vitale, questioned first, incriminated
Johnson. Confronted with Vitale’s statement, Johnson stated that he
was drunk and lost his mind when Hagin was killed. He then said that
he and Hagin were having sex and she was not fighting him, but “I put
my hand on her neck and she died.” Asked when he realized she was
dead, he stated, “When we stopped having sex, when I got up and I
1. The additional facts appearing in this quote are derived from the trial
record in this case.
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said get up, and she didn’t get up.” Johnson adamantly denied
mutilating Hagin’s body.
Testifying in his own behalf at trial, Johnson stated that Vitale,
who acknowledged at trial that he is gay and admitted being in love
with Johnson, argued with Hagin throughout the evening and morning
of February 14-15. When Johnson, Hagin, and Vitale ultimately
returned to the house after their trip to the Savannas park, all three
were arguing. Johnson grabbed her to calm her down and pulled her
into the room to keep from disturbing others sleeping in the house.
He said that he and Hagin then had consensual sex and he passed out
for about an hour, discovering she was dead only when he awoke.
Johnson said that in his statement to police, he meant that he had
placed his hand in the area of her neck during sex, but did not choke
or kill her. He explained that when he said he lost control, he meant
that he lost control of the alcohol, stating, “I couldn’t control how I
was spinning, how I was standing.” He also stated that he meant that
he discovered she was dead after he had passed out, not immediately
after sex.
Johnson further testified that after learning Hagin was dead, he
found and told Vitale. Johnson testified that Vitale responded by
saying “you killed her,” and discouraged him from calling the police.
Johnson believed that he had killed Hagin until he read Vitale’s
statement, particularly Vitale’s assertion that Johnson stated he broke
Hagin’s neck, which Johnson stated was false. Johnson testified that
he eventually came to believe that Vitale had killed Hagin.
Johnson, 969 So. 2d at 943-45.
The jury found Johnson guilty of first-degree murder and indicated in an
interrogatory verdict that its finding was based on both premeditated and felony
murder theories. Id. at 945. The jury also found Johnson guilty of kidnapping,
sexual battery with great force, and theft of less than $300. Id.
After the penalty phase, the jury recommended death by a vote of eleven to
one. Id. The trial court followed the jury’s recommendation and imposed a
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sentence of death. Id. at 945-46. The trial court found three aggravators: (1) that
the murder was committed while Johnson was on community control (moderate
weight); (2) that the murder was committed during the commission of a sexual
battery or kidnapping or both (great weight); and (3) that the murder was especially
heinous, atrocious, or cruel (HAC) (great weight). Id. at 945.
The trial court found the statutory mitigator of no significant history of
criminal activity and assigned it moderate weight. Id. However, the trial court
rejected two statutory mental health mitigating circumstances—(1) that the murder
was committed while Johnson was under the influence of extreme mental or
emotional disturbance, and (2) that Johnson’s capacity to appreciate the criminality
of his conduct or conform his conduct to the requirements of law was substantially
impaired. Id. The trial court also rejected the statutory age mitigator. Id.
The trial court found seven nonstatutory mitigators: (1) Johnson witnessed
and suffered frequent physical and verbal abuse from his father (some weight); (2)
he had a history of extensive drug and alcohol abuse and was under the influence
of alcohol at the time of the murder (moderate weight); (3) he was sexually abused
at a young age (some weight); (4) he was a slow learner (no weight); (5) he was
able to show kindness to others (little weight); (6) he exhibited good behavior in
court (little weight); and (7) he would adjust well to prison and would not commit
further violent crimes (little weight). Id. at 945 & n.1. Finding that the
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aggravators outweighed the mitigators, the trial court sentenced Johnson to death
for the murder and imposed consecutive sentences of thirty years’ imprisonment
for the kidnapping, life imprisonment for the sexual battery with great force, and
sixty days’ imprisonment for petit theft. Id. at 945-46.
On direct appeal, Johnson raised nine claims.2 This Court rejected all of
Johnson’s claims and affirmed his convictions and sentence of death. Id. at 962.
Johnson filed a timely rule 3.851 motion for postconviction relief, which
was later amended, raising numerous claims.3 After holding several Huff 4
2. Johnson asserted the following claims: (1) the trial court erred in granting
a challenge for cause to a potential juror over defense objection; (2) the trial court
erred in admitting a statement by the victim while she was being strangled; (3) the
trial court erred by allowing the State to proceed on a robbery count charged by
information rather than indictment; (4) the trial court erred in permitting improper
cross-examination of Johnson; (5) the evidence was insufficient to prove
kidnapping, sexual battery, and felony murder; (6) his death sentence is
disproportionate; (7) imposition of a death sentence is unconstitutional after
Johnson rejected a plea bargain for a sentence of life imprisonment; (8) the trial
court erred in finding HAC; and (9) six issues concerning the constitutionality of
Florida’s capital sentencing laws and procedures. Id. at 946.
3. Johnson raised the following claims: (1) section 119.19, Florida Statutes,
and Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.852 are unconstitutional; (2) requiring
Johnson to file his rule 3.851 motion one year after his conviction became final
violates due process and equal protection; (3) ineffective assistance of counsel for
(A) failing to challenge the State’s theory of guilt; (B) failing to object to evidence
and argument, including (i) the admission of knives into evidence, (ii) the
reference to the knives during the medical examiner’s testimony, (iii) the
prosecutor’s misleading comments during the medical examiner’s testimony
regarding the victim’s perineal wounds being the result of “cutting,” (iv) the
medical examiner’s characterization of the death as “heinous,” (v) Vitale’s
testimony that Johnson wanted to have sex with the victim while she was sleeping,
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hearings, the postconviction court granted an evidentiary hearing on some of
Johnson’s claims and summarily denied the remaining claims. 5
Thereafter, an evidentiary hearing was held over several days. At the
hearing, Johnson presented testimony from the following individuals: John Vitale
(Johnson’s co-defendant); Thomas Burns (Vitale’s trial defense counsel); Danielle
Blount Fernandez (Johnson’s sister); and Dr. Jethro Toomer (an expert in forensic
psychology). Johnson also presented testimony from the three defense attorneys
who worked on his case: Albert Moore, who briefly represented Johnson until
(vi) improper cross-examination of Johnson, and (vii) not requesting a limiting
instruction on Vitale’s testimony that the victim asked for her children when she
was being strangled; (C) failing to effectively cross-examine Vitale; and (D) failing
to protect Johnson’s Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights by encouraging a letter
writing campaign between Johnson and Vitale; (4) the State’s use of Vitale as a
State agent violated Massiah v. United States, 377 U.S. 201 (1964), Brady v.
Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972), and
Napue v. Illinois, 360 U.S. 264 (1959); (5) trial counsel were ineffective for failing
to challenge the State’s theory of the cause of death; and (6) trial counsel were
ineffective in the penalty phase for failing to investigate, prepare, and present
mental health mitigation.
4. Huff v. State, 622 So. 2d 982 (Fla. 1993). The procedure set forth in
Huff has since been codified in Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851(f)(5)(A).
5. An evidentiary hearing was granted and held on all except the following
claims: section 119.19 and rule 3.852 are unconstitutional (Claim (1)); requiring
Johnson to file his rule 3.851 motion one year after his conviction became final is
unconstitutional (Claim (2)); failing to object to the admission of knives into
evidence (Claim (3)(B)(i)); failing to object to reference to the knives during the
medical examiner’s testimony (Claim (3)(B)(ii)); and failing to object to improper
cross-examination of Johnson when the prosecutor twice asked Johnson whether
witness Thomas Beakley was truthful (Claim (3)(B)(vi)).
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November 2002; Robert Stone, the lead counsel representing Johnson; and Thomas
Garland, who was appointed to represent Johnson after Moore withdrew from the
case. Following the conclusion of the evidentiary hearing, the postconviction court
denied Johnson’s motion for postconviction relief.
On appeal of the postconviction court’s denial of relief, Johnson raises
twelve claims. His postconviction claims on appeal are as follows: (1) trial
counsel were ineffective in the guilt phase for failing to (A) properly object to the
prosecutor’s misleading comments during the medical examiner’s testimony
regarding the nature of the victim’s perineal wounds, (B) object to the medical
examiner’s characterization of the death as “heinous,” (C) object to co-defendant
Vitale’s testimony that Johnson wanted to have sex with the victim while she was
sleeping, (D) effectively cross-examine and impeach Vitale, (E) request a limiting
instruction to ameliorate the impact of Vitale’s testimony that the victim asked for
her children while she was being strangled, and (F) protect Johnson’s Fifth and
Sixth Amendment rights; (2) cumulative error in the guilt phase mandates reversal;
(3) the State violated Massiah, Brady, and Giglio by using Vitale as a State agent;
(4) trial counsel were ineffective during the penalty phase for failing to fully
investigate, prepare mitigation, and present mitigation; and (5) the trial court erred
in summarily denying claims that trial counsel were ineffective for (A) failing to
object to the admission of kitchen knives into evidence, (B) failing to object to the
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medical examiner’s testimony concerning the knives, and (C) failing to object to
impermissible cross-examination. Johnson has also filed a habeas petition raising
a single claim: that appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to raise an alleged
violation of Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966), on direct appeal. For
purposes of this opinion, some of these claims are combined or reorganized in the
analysis that follows; however, we deny all of the claims raised.
ANALYSIS
I. Guilt-Phase Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims
Following the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Strickland v.
Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984), this Court has explained that for a defendant to
succeed on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim, the defendant must satisfy
two requirements:
First, the claimant must identify particular acts or omissions of the
lawyer that are shown to be outside the broad range of reasonably
competent performance under prevailing professional standards.
Second, the clear, substantial deficiency shown must further be
demonstrated to have so affected the fairness and reliability of the
proceeding that confidence in the outcome is undermined. A court
considering a claim of ineffectiveness of counsel need not make a
specific ruling on the performance component of the test when it is
clear that the prejudice component is not satisfied.
Schoenwetter v. State, 46 So. 3d 535, 546 (Fla. 2010) (quoting Maxwell v.
Wainwright, 490 So. 2d 927, 932 (Fla. 1986)).
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To establish deficiency under Strickland, the defendant must prove that
counsel’s performance was unreasonable under “prevailing professional norms.”
Morris v. State, 931 So. 2d 821, 828 (Fla. 2006) (quoting Strickland, 466 U.S. at
688). “A fair assessment of attorney performance requires that every effort be
made to eliminate the distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the
circumstances of counsel’s challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct from
counsel’s perspective at the time.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689. The defendant
carries the burden to “overcome the presumption that, under the circumstances, the
challenged action ‘might be considered sound trial strategy.’ ” Id. (quoting Michel
v. Louisiana, 350 U.S. 91, 101 (1955)). “Judicial scrutiny of counsel’s
performance must be highly deferential.” Id. “[S]trategic decisions do not
constitute ineffective assistance of counsel if alternative courses have been
considered and rejected and counsel’s decision was reasonable under the norms of
professional conduct.” Occhicone v. State, 768 So. 2d 1037, 1048 (Fla. 2000).
As to the prejudice prong, the appropriate test is whether “there is a
reasonable probability that, but for counsel’s unprofessional errors, the result of the
proceeding would have been different. A reasonable probability is a probability
sufficient to undermine confidence in the outcome.” Strickland, 466 U.S. at 694.
Both prongs of the Strickland test present mixed questions of law and fact.
Sochor v. State, 883 So. 2d 766, 771 (Fla. 2004). “In reviewing a trial court’s
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ruling after an evidentiary hearing on an ineffective assistance of counsel claim,
this Court defers to the factual findings of the trial court to the extent that they are
supported by competent, substantial evidence, but reviews de novo the application
of the law to those facts.” Mungin v. State, 932 So. 2d 986, 998 (Fla. 2006).
When a postconviction court summarily denies a claim, the following
standard applies. Rule 3.851 provides certain pleading requirements for initial and
successive postconviction motions. Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851(e)(1)-(2). For example,
the motion must state the nature of the relief sought, Fla. R. Crim. P.
3.851(e)(1)(C), and must include “a detailed allegation of the factual basis for any
claim for which an evidentiary hearing is sought.” Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851(e)(1)(D).
An evidentiary hearing should be held “whenever the movant makes a facially
sufficient claim that requires a factual determination.” Gore v. State, 24 So. 3d 1,
11 (Fla. 2009) (quoting Owen v. State, 986 So. 2d 534, 543 (Fla. 2008)).
However, “[p]ostconviction claims may be summarily denied when they are
legally insufficient, should have been brought on direct appeal, or are positively
refuted by the record.” Id. (quoting Owen, 986 So. 2d at 543). With these
standards in mind, we turn to Johnson’s guilt-phase ineffective assistance of
counsel claims.
A. Victim’s Perineal Injuries
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Johnson raises three claims relating to post-mortem injuries that the victim
sustained to the perineum, the area between the anus and the external genitalia. At
trial, the State’s theory with respect to the perineal wounds was that Johnson
inflicted the perineal injuries after the victim died in order to cover his tracks
because he had sex with the victim. The defense’s theory was that the injuries
were caused by marine life while the body was submerged in water.
In his first claim related to this issue, on which an evidentiary hearing was
granted, Johnson contends that his trial counsel were deficient for failing to object
to the prosecutor’s comments characterizing the victim’s perineal wounds as a
“cut” or “cutting,” where the medical examiner, Dr. Diggs, testified that the
injuries could have been either the result of a human cutting the body or of marine
life. Johnson argues that the State’s repeated use of the terms “cut” or “cutting”
during its questioning of Dr. Diggs was prejudicial because the jury was left with
the inescapable impression that Dr. Diggs conclusively determined that the victim
was cut and that Johnson was the one who did it.
Dr. Diggs, the medical examiner, testified at trial that the victim sustained
post-mortem injuries to the perineum and referred to the injuries as “laceration(s),”
“cut(s),” “cutting,” and “tearing.” The State then inquired as to the cause of the
injuries and asked whether two knives recovered from Johnson and Vitale’s
residence, which were introduced into evidence, could have caused the injuries.
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Dr. Diggs testified that the knives “could have been” used to cause the injuries, but
he could not definitely attribute the injuries to a cutting action. Dr. Diggs also
testified that he could not rule out damage caused by marine life while the victim’s
body was submerged in water as a possible cause. After Dr. Diggs used the terms
“cut” and “cutting,” the State then used those terms in some of its questioning,
with many of the questions focusing on whether the injuries were the result of
cutting.
We conclude that trial counsel were not deficient for failing to object, or
failing to renew an objection, to the State’s use of the words “cut” or “cutting”
during its questioning of Dr. Diggs. The State’s use of the terms “cut” and
“cutting” was consistent with Dr. Diggs’ testimony. Further, throughout the
State’s questioning, Dr. Diggs repeatedly testified that he could not rule out marine
life as the cause of the injuries, but that human cutting was the more likely
scenario. The State was entitled to present testimony and evidence in support of its
theory that the wounds to the perineal area were caused by Johnson in order to
destroy any evidence linking him to the victim, just as the defense was entitled to
present evidence and testimony as to its theory that the injuries were caused by
marine life.
Moreover, trial counsel consulted with two forensic experts, Dr. Wright and
Dr. Feagle, neither of whom disagreed with Dr. Diggs’ findings. In fact, defense
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counsel Garland testified at the evidentiary hearing that Dr. Wright had concluded
that he could not testify that marine life caused the injuries because the injuries
were too smooth to be caused by jagged jaws or teeth. Significantly, Johnson did
not present any forensic evidence or testimony at the evidentiary hearing.
As Garland testified at the evidentiary hearing, the issue of whether it was
human cutting or marine life that caused the perineal injuries was ultimately not
the biggest issue in the case, as the defense theory was that Vitale had killed the
victim and that either the injuries were the result of marine life after Vitale
disposed of the body in the water or were the result of Vitale cutting the victim.
Thus, counsel were not deficient for failing to object, or failing to renew an
objection to, the prosecutor’s comments, and we deny relief on this claim.
Johnson contends in his second and third claims relating to the victim’s
perineal injuries that the postconviction court erred in denying an evidentiary
hearing on two summarily denied claims, which were as follows: (1) trial counsel
were ineffective for failing to object to the admission of kitchen knives into
evidence, where the State had failed to establish that the knives belonged to
Johnson and the relevancy of the knives; and (2) trial counsel were ineffective for
failing to object to Dr. Diggs’ testimony concerning the knives that were admitted
into evidence and the possibility that the knives could have caused the victim’s
wounds. Because we conclude that the knives were properly admitted under the
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facts of this case, and because Dr. Diggs’ testimony that the perineal wounds could
have been caused by the knives was proper, these arguments are without merit.
Counsel cannot be deficient for failing to raise a meritless objection.
Schoenwetter, 46 So. 3d at 546. Accordingly, we conclude that the postconviction
court properly denied these two claims without an evidentiary hearing.
B. Medical Examiner’s Use of the Term “Heinous”
In this claim, Johnson argues that his counsel were ineffective for failing to
object to Dr. Diggs’ one-time use in the guilt phase of the word “heinous” to
describe the strangulation death. Specifically, Johnson contends that in using the
term “heinous,” Dr. Diggs rendered an improper opinion and that counsel’s failure
to object prejudiced him not only in the guilt phase as to his conviction, but also in
the penalty phase as to his sentence. We disagree.
During the guilt phase, Dr. Diggs stated that strangulation was “a heinous
type death.” He did not use the term “heinous” again. The postconviction court
found as follows with respect to this claim:
The court finds that the medical examiner was not rendering an
opinion concerning the HAC aggravating circumstance. The court
agrees with trial counsel’s evidentiary hearing testimony interpreting
the medical examiner’s “heinous” characterization merely as a
description of the death, and not as a term of art. Consequently, the
court finds no deficient performance or prejudice.
(Citation omitted.) We agree with the postconviction court and conclude that trial
counsel were not deficient for failing to object to Dr. Diggs’ one-time use of the
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word “heinous” in the guilt phase. See Hitchcock v. State, 991 So. 2d 337, 361
(Fla. 2008) (“Counsel cannot be deemed ineffective for failing to make a meritless
objection.”).
C. Vitale’s Testimony that Johnson Wanted to Have Sex with the Victim
In this claim, Johnson contends that trial counsel were ineffective for failing
to object to Vitale’s testimony as to his opinion that Johnson wanted to have sex
with the victim while she was sleeping, despite not being competent to testify
regarding Johnson’s thought processes or state of mind. Johnson argues that
Vitale’s statement prejudiced Johnson because it improperly led the jury to believe
he would seek to take advantage of a woman who was unable to consent to sexual
intercourse. This claim is without merit.
Vitale testified that the victim had fallen asleep and that when they arrived at
the Savannas State Preserve and Johnson asked Vitale to leave Johnson and the
victim alone and take a walk, Vitale “figured” it was because Johnson wanted to
have sex with the victim. However, Vitale did not testify that Johnson wanted to
have sex with the victim while the victim was asleep. Rather, Vitale’s testimony
was clear that Johnson and the victim subsequently exited the vehicle, that the
victim was awake and willing when they did so, and that Johnson and the victim
had consensual sexual intercourse outside of the vehicle. Both defense attorneys
present at trial testified at the evidentiary hearing that it required a strained reading
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of Vitale’s testimony to infer that Johnson intended to have sex with an
unconscious woman at the state park. We conclude that defense counsel were not
deficient for failing to object to Vitale’s testimony.
We also deny Johnson’s claim that Vitale’s statement that he “figured”
Johnson wanted to have sex was improper opinion testimony regarding a subject
on which Vitale was not competent to testify. This argument is without merit
because Vitale was simply testifying about his observations and interpretation of
Johnson’s nonverbal actions, which was proper. See § 90.604, Fla. Stat. (2006).
Counsel cannot be deficient for failing to raise a meritless objection.
Schoenwetter, 46 So. 3d at 546.
D. Failure to Request a Limiting Instruction
In this claim, Johnson contends that his trial counsel were ineffective for not
requesting a limiting instruction regarding Vitale’s testimony that the victim asked
for her children while being strangled, after trial counsel’s objection to the
statement was overruled. Specifically, Johnson argues that defense counsel made
no effort to mitigate the clear prejudice of Vitale’s statement by requesting an
instruction that the jury consider the statement only to establish Johnson’s state of
mind and, as allegedly recognized by this Court on direct appeal, this failure
prejudiced Johnson. We disagree.
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Vitale testified at trial that the victim stated that she “wanted her children”
while Johnson was choking her. Johnson, 969 So. 2d at 948. “The defense
objected on grounds that the testimony went beyond the permissible scope of
redirect examination, that the statement had little or no probative value and
tremendous potential for unfair prejudice, and that it did not meet the criteria for
either a dying declaration or an excited utterance.” Id. The trial court overruled
the objection, concluding that the statement was admissible as an excited utterance
and that, although it was “extremely damaging,” the potential for unfair prejudice
did not substantially outweigh its probative value on the issue of premeditation. Id.
Defense counsel did not request a limiting instruction. The statement was used by
the State in its penalty-phase closing argument as supporting evidence of HAC and
was relied upon by the trial court in finding HAC, as well as by this Court in
upholding the HAC aggravator. Id. at 952, 957.
On direct appeal, this Court concluded that the statement was not
inadmissible hearsay, that the statement was relevant and admissible to show
premeditation, and that its probative value was not substantially outweighed by its
potential for unfair prejudice. Id. at 948-52. With respect to probative value and
evidentiary prejudice, this Court reasoned as follows:
We acknowledge the statement’s potential to create an emotional
basis for the verdict. However, the prejudicial impact of the evidence
could have been ameliorated to some extent by an instruction to
consider the evidence solely on the issue of the defendant’s intent.
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Johnson complains on appeal that the trial court did not give a limiting
instruction, but he made no request for such an instruction below and
does not now claim that a limiting instruction would have been
ineffective. Therefore, this aspect of his argument is waived. Further,
we note that the State was cautious in its use of the statement. The
prosecutor did not mention the statement again until the penalty
phase, when he legitimately argued that it supported the HAC
aggravator.
Accordingly, the potential for unfair prejudice . . . did not
“substantially outweigh” the statement’s probative value. We
conclude that the trial court acted within its discretion under the rules
of evidence, specifically sections 90.403 and 90.803(2), in allowing
the State to introduce the statement over defense objection.
Id. at 952.
The postconviction court denied the claim that trial counsel were deficient
for not requesting a limiting instruction, finding that counsel did not engage in an
“unsound trial strategy” by deciding to proceed “in a manner that would not call
attention to Vitale’s testimony.” Although this Court stated on direct appeal that
“the prejudicial impact of the evidence could have been ameliorated to some extent
by an instruction to consider the evidence solely on the issue of the defendant’s
intent,” id., trial counsels’ failure to object or move for a limiting instruction
cannot be deemed deficient if it was the result of reasonable trial strategy. See
Occhicone, 768 So. 2d at 1048. Here, counsel objected to the admission of the
statement in an attempt to exclude it, but after the trial court ruled that the
statement was admissible, counsel did not request a limiting instruction, which
would have drawn further attention to the emotionally charged comment.
- 20 -
We conclude, based on this record, that counsel were not deficient for failing
to request a limiting instruction. This Court has held that deciding not to draw
attention to a comment can constitute sound trial strategy, including in situations
where trial counsel deliberately chose not to object to a comment or chose to
decline a curative instruction. See, e.g., Brown v. State, 846 So. 2d 1114, 1123
(Fla. 2003) (holding that counsel was not deficient for failing to object “when a
witness identified an autopsy photo of the victim, and responded that the victim
appeared in a worse condition than the witness had ever seen him,” as “it reflected
counsel’s deliberate decision not to bring attention to the comment by objecting to
it”); Cole v. State, 841 So. 2d 409, 416-17 (Fla. 2003) (holding that declining a
curative instruction regarding State’s statement of “mankind at its worst” was not
deficient because “the curative instruction in this case would have had the effect of
repeating the offensive comment”); cf. Salazar v. State, 991 So. 2d 364, 372 (Fla.
2008) (“[T]he trial court had the discretion not to give a curative instruction if it
believed that doing so would draw further attention to the improper comment.”).
Even assuming that counsel were deficient, Johnson has failed to
demonstrate prejudice. Johnson contends that this Court recognized the prejudicial
impact of Vitale’s statement on direct appeal and therefore, “there is a judicial
determination that such a limiting instruction would have been helpful” and that
“the State, defense counsel and the trial court all presume their conclusions
- 21 -
regarding the prejudicial nature of Vitale’s testimony is superior to this Court’s.”
However, Johnson overlooks that the prejudicial impact this Court was referring to
was prejudice for purposes of application of the section 90.403 evidentiary
balancing test. See Johnson, 969 So. 2d at 952. Although this Court recognized
the statement’s “potential to create an emotional basis for the verdict” and that a
limiting instruction could have “ameliorated [this] to some extent,” id. (emphasis
added), this does not equate to a judicial determination by this Court of Strickland
prejudice.
To the contrary, we conclude that any failure of trial counsel to request a
limiting instruction in this case does not undermine this Court’s confidence in the
conviction. As outlined by this Court on direct appeal, strong evidence connected
Johnson to the murder. Further, this Court observed that “the State was cautious in
its use of the statement. The prosecutor did not mention the statement again until
the penalty phase, when he legitimately argued that it supported the HAC
aggravator.” Id.
Accordingly, we deny this claim.
E. Cross-Examination of Vitale
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In this claim, Johnson argues that his trial counsel were ineffective for
failing to effectively cross-examine Vitale. 6 Johnson contends that during cross-
examination, trial counsel struggled to locate the references to Vitale’s inconsistent
prior statements and was admonished by the trial court for failing to properly
conduct impeachment. This claim is without merit.
In denying this claim, the postconviction court found as follows:
The court has reviewed the extensive cross-examination of
Vitale’s trial testimony during which counsel explored inconsistencies
in the various statements concerning Vitale’s role, level of
participation, and injuries; Johnson’s role and direction of Vitale; the
victim’s behavior, statements, and injuries; and the jail letter exchange
between Vitale and Johnson. And although counsel may have
struggled at times with his impeachment technique, the record reveals
that counsel questioned Vitale on these three areas of inconsistency in
Vitale’s statements concerning the perineal wound, Johnson’s
admission to breaking the victim’s neck, and Johnson’s disclosure of
the victim’s request for her children. Further, the State investigator
corroborated that Vitale had disclosed in his first statement Johnson’s
admission to breaking the victim’s neck. Therefore, absent an
evidentiary showing of what specific information counsel failed to
bring out concerning these three areas of inconsistency in Vitale’s
statements, the court finds no prejudice to the outcome of the trial.
(Citation omitted.) Having reviewed the record, we conclude that the
postconviction court’s factual findings are supported by competent, substantial
evidence, and that the court did not err as to its legal conclusions. Although, as the
postconviction court found in its order, “counsel may have struggled at times with
6. Although an evidentiary hearing was granted on this claim, no testimony
or evidence was presented at the hearing in support of this claim.
- 23 -
his impeachment technique,” defense counsel succeeded in impeaching Vitale with
respect to many of his prior inconsistent statements and demonstrating that Vitale
had a motive to embellish his testimony.
In addition, Johnson contends that his counsel were ineffective for failing to
move to have Vitale’s original taped statement played for the jury, as the transcript
used by defense counsel during his impeachment of Vitale reflected portions of the
statement as “indiscernible.” The effect of this, Johnson argues, was that Vitale
was able to claim during his trial testimony that he had previously stated that
Johnson told him he broke the victim’s neck during an “indiscernible” portion of
one of Vitale’s statements, which was incomplete. We conclude that Johnson has
not established that defense counsel were deficient for failing to play the tape for
the jury when the tape was incomplete because portions were missing from the
recording and there has been no demonstration that the tape itself was not also
“indiscernible.”
Accordingly, we deny this claim.
F. Impermissible Cross-Examination of Johnson
This claim, in which Johnson argues that his trial counsel were ineffective
for failing to object to impermissible cross-examination of Johnson when the
prosecutor twice asked Johnson whether witness Thomas Beakley was truthful
when he testified that the victim was crying, was summarily denied by the
- 24 -
postconviction court. On appeal, Johnson contends that he was entitled to an
evidentiary hearing on this claim.
In rejecting a claim pertaining to this line of questioning on direct appeal,
this Court held that despite the improper questioning, any error would have been
harmless beyond a reasonable doubt and, for the same reason, not fundamental
error. This Court reasoned as follows:
Johnson responded to the questioning without stating that he thought
Beakley was untruthful. In each instance, the question concerned only
whether Hagin was crying or whining. Johnson parried the
prosecutor’s suggestion that either he or Beakley had to be lying by
asserting that what Beakley heard as a cry, Johnson heard as a whine.
There is no reasonable possibility that this exchange so affected the
jury’s view of Johnson’s credibility that it contributed to the verdict.
Johnson, 969 So. 2d at 955.
We conclude that the postconviction court did not err in summarily denying
this claim because it was “positively refuted by the record.” Gore, 24 So. 3d at 11
(quoting Owen, 986 So. 2d at 543). Although Johnson argues that this Court’s
determination of harmless error does not foreclose a finding of prejudice, we
conclude that trial counsel’s failure to object to the questioning and testimony at
issue does not undermine this Court’s confidence in the conviction for the same
reasons this Court found the error to be harmless on direct appeal. See Johnson,
969 So. 2d at 955.
- 25 -
II. Claims Relating to the State’s Alleged Use of Vitale as a State Agent
and Letters Written Between Vitale and Johnson
(Strickland, Massiah, Brady, and Giglio)
The next set of claims relates to Johnson’s assertion that the State
improperly used Vitale to elicit incriminating statements in a series of letters
written between Johnson and Vitale while both were incarcerated after the murder.
Johnson’s theory at trial was that Vitale committed the murder because he was
jealous that Johnson had a sexual relationship with the victim that evening. In
support of this theory, “confession” letters written by Vitale were introduced into
evidence. The State then introduced letters written from Johnson to Vitale, in
which Johnson appeared to have coached Vitale on his confession.
Johnson’s claims related to the letter writing fall into several categories.
First, Johnson contends that his counsel were ineffective for encouraging, or failing
to stop, a letter writing campaign between him and Vitale, and therefore counsel
failed in their duty to protect Johnson’s Fifth Amendment right against self-
incrimination. Second, Johnson argues that Vitale was acting as a State agent
attempting to elicit incriminating information from Johnson and, therefore, the
State violated Massiah v. United States 377 U.S. 201 (1964); Brady v. Maryland,
373 U.S. 83 (1963); and Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972).
Specifically, Johnson claims a Brady violation on the grounds that the State
withheld favorable evidence from trial counsel, namely a letter written by Vitale’s
- 26 -
attorney, Burns, to the State referring to Vitale possibly providing assistance to the
State. We begin by reviewing the relevant trial and postconviction testimony and
evidence as it pertains to this series of claims.
A. Trial Testimony and Evidence
After being arrested, Vitale and Johnson wrote numerous letters back and
forth. At trial, these letters were first mentioned during the State’s direct
examination of Vitale, but only insofar as referencing that Johnson asked for
Vitale’s help with the case, that Vitale and Johnson wrote notes and letters back
and forth, and that Vitale could identify letters as being from Johnson because he
recognized Johnson’s handwriting and the content of the letters pertained to facts
and experiences in common to Vitale and Johnson.
On cross-examination, the defense questioned Vitale about, and introduced
into evidence, letters that Vitale had written to various individuals, in which he
confessed to the crime. The defense introduced letters written by Vitale as eleven
exhibits, in which Vitale confessed to the State Attorney in the case as well as to
various individuals, including Johnson, Johnson’s mother, Johnson and Vitale’s
former roommates, and Johnson’s friends. 7 All of the letters were undated, but the
letter to the State Attorney was attached to an envelope that was mailed on August
7. There were a total of at least sixty-seven letters, but the trial court limited
the number of letters each side could introduce and directed the attorneys to redact
irrelevant portions of the letters.
- 27 -
8, 2002. Upon being questioned about these letters, Vitale testified that Johnson
gave him a list of individuals to whom he should write and that for each confession
letter, there was a corresponding letter in which Johnson told Vitale what he should
write.
On redirect, the State introduced into evidence a letter from Vitale to
Johnson stating that he loved Johnson and wanted to help. The State also
introduced fourteen letters from Johnson to Vitale, which, among other things,
pleaded for Vitale’s help, asked Vitale to convince the State that Johnson did not
commit the murder, gave Vitale detailed feedback and direction as to Vitale’s draft
confession, urged Vitale to promptly send a revised confession and get it notarized,
and told Vitale not to say anything in letters that could incriminate Johnson. In
various letters, Johnson told Vitale that he cared deeply for him, that he loved him,
and that Vitale had a permanent place in his heart.
All of the letters were undated, 8 and Vitale testified that he could not
sequence any of the letters. Later in the trial, defense counsel and the State both
questioned Johnson about the letters. Johnson testified that at the time he
8. Although the letters were undated, several letters included some
indication of the dates on which they were mailed or received. One letter was
mailed from Johnson to Vitale on December 17, 2001; one letter from Johnson to
Vitale was forwarded by Vitale after he received it to his attorney, Burns, on
December 17, 2001; and several letters were stamped “RECEIVED” by the State
Attorney’s office on May 7, 2004.
- 28 -
confessed to law enforcement, he thought he was guilty. Johnson stated that he
wrote his pleading letters to Vitale asking for help to avoid the death penalty when
Johnson thought he himself had killed the victim. Johnson testified that he
eventually realized he was innocent and that Vitale was the killer.
In closing argument during the guilt phase, the State contended that the
letters demonstrated that Johnson was a “user,” a “manipulator,” and a “murderer.”
The defense argued in response that it was ridiculous to believe that Vitale wrote
the confession letters at Johnson’s behest because no one would confess to a
serious crime he or she did not commit, no matter how much he or she loved
someone.
B. Evidentiary Hearing Testimony and Evidence
At the postconviction evidentiary hearing, Johnson introduced into evidence
two letters written from Vitale to the State. The first was dated October 22, 2003.
The letter began by stating, “Today Mr. Hamrick [the State investigator] came to
see me to pick up a letter I received from Rich [Johnson]. I explained to him that I
had a letter for Rich in response to his.” Vitale explained that he was enclosing a
letter that he wished for the State Attorney to mail for him and that “[b]y sending
this letter to you—I feel at least I’m going through the right channels this time.”
Toward the end of the letter, Vitale stated: “I truly hope that by the time you
- 29 -
receive this letter, you’ve taken me off of PC[9]. I explained it to Mr. Hamrick. I
hope also that we will be going over everything about this case soon.” The second
letter is an undated, handwritten note to the State, which read as follows:
“Enclosed please find another letter I received from Richard on 3-3-04 and note the
return address. I’m trying to get a copy of the reply letter I sent.”
Johnson also introduced a letter dated January 14, 2003, which was written
by Vitale’s attorney, Burns, to the State (the “Burns Letter”). The letter contained
statements such as the following: “My guy is exceedingly impatient and
exasperated at the delay in setting up the assistance we discussed a long time ago”;
“I thought that you and I were on the same page as to the desirability of putting
[Vitale’s] letters into a proper context, and quite possibly getting the co-defendant
to confess on tape”; and “My hope, of course, is that Vitale’s cooperation would
earn him a lighter sentence, and yours is that Johnson would confess to Vitale . . . ,
thus removing a thorn in the side of your case by preventing [Johnson’s defense
attorney] Bob Stone from claiming that [Vitale’s] letters are true confessions.”
At the evidentiary hearing, Johnson also presented testimony from the three
defense attorneys who worked on his case: Moore, Stone, and Garland. In
addition, Johnson presented testimony from Vitale and Thomas Burns, Vitale’s
trial defense counsel.
9. It is not explained what “PC” means.
- 30 -
Defense counsel Moore testified that he was Johnson’s trial counsel toward
the beginning of the case, and the record reflects that Moore was relieved from
representing Johnson in November 2002. Moore testified that he did not
encourage the communication between Johnson and Vitale because in Moore’s
opinion, it was not a good idea to have his clients communicate with anyone.
Moore was not aware that Vitale was communicating directly with the State.
Defense counsel Garland, who was appointed as co-counsel to replace
Moore in February 2003 and who represented Johnson at trial, testified that he
believed he was made aware of communications between Johnson and Vitale from
Moore and that he eventually saw the letters prior to trial. However, Garland did
not encourage Johnson to continue writing to Vitale. Garland testified that he
became aware at some point that Vitale was trying to make a deal with the State,
and that it would have been good for the defense to know that Vitale was writing
directly to the State, as it could have been used as impeachment to undermine
Vitale’s credibility. When shown the Burns Letter, Garland stated that he did not
recall seeing it prior to trial, but that the mention of wearing a wire indicated that
Burns was attempting to have Vitale work as a State agent. On cross-examination
by the State, Garland acknowledged that he did not know what was in Burns’ mind
when he wrote the letter.
- 31 -
Defense counsel Stone, who was co-counsel at Johnson’s trial, testified that
after he obtained Vitale’s confession letter, he sent the letter to the State. Stone
was not aware of Vitale’s communications directly with the State until the State
turned over those letters shortly before trial. Stone recalled that Burns testified
during a deposition that he had held on to many of the letters for a while and then
just prior to trial, turned them over to the State. Stone was also not aware that
Johnson wrote letters back to Vitale until shortly before trial. If Stone had known
that Johnson was writing to Vitale, he testified that he would have told Johnson not
to do it. At one point, Johnson told Stone that Vitale was interested in confessing,
and Stone told Johnson that if Vitale wanted to confess, it would be best to get that
in writing. However, Stone did not tell Johnson how to get Vitale’s confession in
writing, and Stone stated that he warns his clients that there is no privacy in prison
and that anything they say or write can be used against them.
When shown the Burns Letter, Stone stated that he did not recall seeing the
letter until a few days before the postconviction evidentiary hearing. If Stone had
seen the Burns Letter prior to trial, he testified that he would have used it. He also
would have told Johnson to stay as far away from Vitale as possible. Stone
testified that the Burns Letter implied that Vitale was working as a State agent, but
that Stone did not have any evidence or direct knowledge that this was the case.
- 32 -
Vitale testified that Burns, his defense counsel, advised him to be truthful
and did not say anything to Vitale about helping the State. Vitale testified that the
letter writing between him and Johnson started as Johnson’s idea. Vitale told
Burns about the letters after the letter writing started, but the letter writing
continued after that conversation. However, Vitale could not remember for how
long the letter writing continued.
With respect to the letters Vitale wrote to the State, he testified that he
probably wrote the letters because he could not get in touch with Burns. Vitale
testified that he did not receive any letters back from the State explaining that it
was inappropriate for Vitale to contact the State. Vitale testified that state
investigator Hamrick came to see him in jail and that he delivered letters directly to
Hamrick, but that Vitale gave most of the letters to Burns. Vitale further testified
that he wrote confession letters to Johnson in order to buy time so that he could get
in touch with the State in order to wear a wire. Vitale testified that wearing a wire
was his idea, but that he did not discuss the idea with the State, despite attempting
to do so. Vitale had spoken to Burns about it, but according to Vitale, Burns had
failed to relay the message to the State.
According to Burns, the letter writing between Vitale and Johnson continued
after Burns was appointed as Vitale’s counsel, but Burns neither encouraged nor
discouraged it. At some point, Burns informed the State as to the letters between
- 33 -
Vitale and Johnson. Burns also informed the State that Burns was in possession of
those letters and that Vitale might be willing to offer testimony against Johnson for
a sufficient reward. Burns did not recall Vitale writing directly to the State, and he
did not encourage Vitale to do so. However, that did not mean that Vitale did not
write to the State directly, because Vitale was “not fully under [Burns’] control.”
Burns testified that the case was taking a long time and that Vitale wanted to be
done with it for a number of reasons, many of them personal. Vitale had told
Burns that he wanted the case resolved, no matter what the result. Burns stated
that Vitale was emotional and that Burns was concerned that Vitale might be
untruthful and act against his own interests.
Regarding the Burns Letter, Burns testified that it was unusual that he would
actually write a letter to the State, preferring to communicate in person. Burns was
asked about the mention in the letter of a thorn in the side of the State’s case, and
he responded that this was a reference to the confession letters written by Vitale.
Burns explained that the purpose of the Burns Letter was to show Vitale that Burns
was bringing up the issues to the State and that Burns was not letting Vitale down.
Burns testified that he showed the letter to Vitale.
On cross-examination by the State, Burns stated that to his knowledge,
Vitale was not acting as an agent of the State in eliciting statements from Johnson.
Rather, any correspondence between Vitale and Johnson was completely organic
- 34 -
and at no one’s instruction. Burns also testified that wearing a wire was Vitale’s
idea, and Burns never would have suggested it because Vitale was not completely
reliable or controllable. On redirect, Burns testified that Vitale met directly with
the State once or twice without Burns present because of scheduling issues, but
Burns would have expected Vitale to tell him what happened.
C. Trial Court’s Order
In denying Johnson’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim regarding the
letters, the postconviction court found in pertinent part as follows:
The court notes the relevant timeline. In 2001, the offenses
were committed and Johnson was indicted. Moore was appointed to
represent Johnson. Stone was later retained to represent Johnson.
Moore stayed on as second chair. Vitale sent a “confession” letter to
Stone. On July 2, 2002, Stone sent Vitale’s “confession” letter to the
prosecutors. On November 20, 2002, Moore was discharged from
representation. In January 2003, Garland was appointed to succeed
Moore. On January 14, 2003, Burns sent a letter to the prosecutors
referring to the Vitale plea negotiations. On October 22, 2003, Vitale
sent a letter to the prosecutors referring to his contact with the State
investigator, a letter to Vitale from Johnson, and a letter to Johnson
from Vitale. In March 2004, Vitale sent a note to the prosecutors
referring to a letter to Vitale from Johnson. In June 2004, the trial was
conducted. In August 2004, [Johnson] was sentenced.
It is undisputed that Vitale communicated directly with
Johnson, the prosecutors, the State investigator, Burns, and Stone.
There is no evidence that the prosecutors initiated the contact or
responded to Vitale. And there is no evidence that undermines
Vitale’s testimony that wearing a wire was his idea. Although there is
reference to a jail visit by the State investigator, no testimony of the
investigator or prosecutors was offered to explain the purpose of the
visit. And the court declines to infer that the investigator’s visit was
for the purpose of enticing or arranging for Vitale to elicit
incriminating evidence from Johnson.
- 35 -
Burns, Moore, Garland, and Stone are experienced trial
attorneys and credible witnesses. There is no evidence that these
attorneys had knowledge that the prosecutors initiated, encouraged, or
responded to Vitale; or that the State was otherwise using Vitale to
deliberately elicit incriminating statements from Johnson.
Stone and Garland were unaware of Vitale’s direct
communication with the prosecutors until shortly before trial. They
were unaware of Burns’ January 14, 2003, plea negotiation letter until
shortly before the postconviction evidentiary hearing. However, no
evidence was presented to demonstrate a willful discovery violation
by the State with respect to the letter.
Moore, Stone, and Garland did not encourage Johnson to
communicate with Vitale. Stone’s explanation is credible as to his
comment to Johnson that if Vitale’s attorney would not let Vitale talk
to the State, Vitale should put it in writing. The court does not
interpret this as advice to Johnson to communicate with Vitale. And,
as standard practice of seasoned criminal defense attorneys, the court
finds all three attorneys would have warned Johnson of the risks of
jailhouse communication.
Burns’ explanation is credible as to his attempt to manage his
uncontrollable client Vitale, and Vitale’s expectations by addressing
the recording in the January 14, 2003, letter. Burns corroborated
Vitale’s testimony that it was Vitale’s idea to wear a wire.
In conclusion, Johnson has failed to meet his burden of proving
that the State was using Vitale to deliberately elicit incriminating
statements from Johnson or that Vitale was otherwise a State agent,
and that counsel failed to protect Johnson from Vitale. Further,
[Johnson] fails to demonstrate prejudice of the letters to the outcome
of the trial where the defense strategy was that Vitale, not Johnson,
killed the victim. The letters were the only evidence other than
Johnson’s testimony that tied Vitale to the victim, thus supporting the
viability of the defense. And at trial, the State introduced no
statements made by Johnson after the letters began as proof for the
charged crimes that would otherwise demonstrate prejudice.
(Citation omitted.) In denying Johnson’s Massiah, Brady, and Giglio claims, the
postconviction court found as follows:
- 36 -
The court adopts its analysis [with respect to the ineffective
assistance of counsel claim regarding the letters] to find no merit to
Johnson’s claims that the State deliberately elicited incriminating
statements from Johnson and withheld evidence of Vitale’s agent
where there is insufficient evidence to show an “overt scheme” by the
State, and where the terms of Vitale’s plea agreement were disclosed
at trial. Further, Johnson otherwise fails to demonstrate that Vitale’s
plea agreement testimony was false or that any terms of the plea
agreement were undisclosed to Johnson. Consequently, the court finds
no violation of Massiah, Brady, or Giglio.
(Citation omitted.) We now turn to an analysis of Johnson’s ineffective assistance
of counsel claim pertaining to the letters and then Johnson’s Massiah, Brady, and
Giglio claims. For the reasons set forth below, we conclude that the postconviction
court’s factual findings are supported by competent, substantial evidence and that
Johnson is not entitled to relief.
D. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim
Johnson contends that his counsel were ineffective for encouraging, or
failing to stop, a letter writing campaign between him and Vitale and, therefore,
counsel failed in their duty to protect Johnson’s Fifth Amendment right against
self-incrimination. We reject Johnson’s argument and conclude that Johnson’s
trial counsel were not deficient in failing to halt the letter writing campaign
between Johnson and Vitale.
First, all three of Johnson’s defense attorneys—Moore, Stone, and
Garland—testified at the evidentiary hearing that they did not encourage Johnson
to write the letters. The postconviction court specifically found that Moore, Stone,
- 37 -
and Garland were “experienced trial attorneys and credible witnesses.” Further,
the postconviction court found that “as standard practice of seasoned criminal
defense attorneys, the court finds all three attorneys would have warned Johnson of
the risks of jailhouse communication.” These findings are supported by
competent, substantial evidence.
Second, there was no evidence presented that Johnson’s defense attorneys
were aware that Vitale was writing letters directly to the State until shortly before
trial. As the postconviction court found, “Stone and Garland [the two attorneys
who represented Johnson at trial] were unaware of Vitale’s direct communication
with the prosecutors until shortly before trial.”
Third, to the extent that Johnson relies on the Burns Letter and the testimony
of defense counsel regarding how their approach would have changed if they had
seen the letter, the Burns Letter is also the subject of Johnson’s Brady claim based
on the State’s failure to disclose the Burns Letter. Defense counsel cannot be
deemed deficient based on a document that they never received. See Roberts v.
State, 568 So. 2d 1255, 1259 (Fla. 1990).
In conclusion, the postconviction court’s finding that “[t]here is no evidence
that these attorneys had knowledge that the prosecutors initiated, encouraged, or
responded to Vitale; or that the State was otherwise using Vitale to deliberately
elicit incriminating statements from Johnson” is supported by competent,
- 38 -
substantial evidence. Johnson has not demonstrated that his counsel encouraged
the letter writing between Vitale and Johnson or that they were deficient in failing
to halt it. Accordingly, he is not entitled to relief on this claim.
E. Massiah Claim
Next, Johnson argues that the State utilized Vitale as a State agent to obtain
incriminating information from Johnson. Johnson contends that this is evidenced
by the Burns Letter, which was withheld from the defense in violation of Brady;
letters from Vitale to the State; and the fact that the State investigator, Hamrick,
visited Johnson in jail for the purpose of getting the letters directly from Vitale.
The State contends that this claim is procedurally barred. Johnson asserts
that the claim is not barred because the State withheld pertinent information
pointing to a Massiah violation, including the Burns Letter, on which this claim in
large part relies. Because the Burns Letter, as discussed below in our analysis of
Johnson’s Brady claim, was not disclosed by the State, Johnson is not procedurally
barred from bringing this claim in his postconviction relief proceeding.
Turning to the merits of this claim, this Court has explained the
holding and import of Massiah as follows:
In Massiah, the United States Supreme Court announced for the
first time that the Sixth Amendment prohibits law enforcement
officers from interrogating a defendant after his or her indictment and
in the absence of counsel. Consequently, statements “deliberately
elicited” from a defendant after the right to counsel has attached and
in the absence of a valid waiver are rendered inadmissible and cannot
- 39 -
be used against the defendant at trial. 377 U.S. at 206. Nevertheless,
incriminatory statements by a defendant will not be excluded merely
because the statements are made after judicial proceedings have been
initiated and in the absence of a valid waiver. Rather, law
enforcement officials must do something that infringes upon the
defendant’s Sixth Amendment right.
While the “deliberately elicited” standard is clearly satisfied
when the police directly interrogate or question a defendant in some
fashion, it also may be satisfied by less direct types of questioning.
Usually, determining whether the “deliberately elicited” standard has
been met becomes an issue in cases . . . where incriminatory
statements from a defendant were obtained through persons other than
the police who allegedly acted as police informants or surrogates.
Smith v. State, 28 So. 3d 838, 857-58 (Fla. 2009) (citations and alterations
omitted) (quoting Rolling v. State, 695 So. 2d 278, 290 (Fla. 1997)). However, “a
defendant does not make out a violation of that right simply by showing that an
informant, either through prior arrangement or voluntarily, reported [the
defendant’s] incriminating statements to the police. Rather, the defendant must
demonstrate that the police and their informant took some action, beyond merely
listening, that was designed deliberately to elicit incriminating remarks.”
Kuhlmann v. Wilson, 477 U.S. 436, 459 (1986) (emphasis added). The United
States Supreme Court has applied the “deliberately elicited” standard to
information garnered by jailhouse informants. See Maine v. Moulton, 474 U.S.
159, 176 (1985); United States v. Henry, 447 U.S. 264, 270 (1980).
We conclude that the evidence presented in this record falls short of
demonstrating a Massiah violation. The postconviction court did not err in its
- 40 -
finding that “Johnson has failed to meet his burden of proving that the State was
using Vitale to deliberately elicit incriminating statements from Johnson or that
Vitale was otherwise a State agent.”
We begin our analysis of Johnson’s Massiah claim by setting forth two
significant facts that place the letters and this claim in context. First, it is
undisputed that Johnson—not the State—initiated the letter writing between
Johnson and Vitale and that Johnson was the motivating force behind Vitale’s
confession letters. Second, as pointed out by the State, Johnson’s letters are not
incriminating in the sense that they directly implicated him in the crime. Rather,
the letters were used by the State at trial to undermine Vitale’s written confessions
by demonstrating that Johnson had manipulated Vitale into confessing.
Against this backdrop, we now discuss Johnson’s arguments, which
primarily rely on three pieces of evidence in support of his claim that Vitale was
working as a State agent. The first is the Burns Letter. In denying this claim, the
postconviction court specifically found that Burns was an “experienced trial
attorney[] and [a] credible witness[].” The postconviction court further found that
“Burns’ explanation is credible as to his attempt to manage his uncontrollable
client Vitale, and Vitale’s expectations by addressing the recording” sought by
Vitale in the Burns Letter. Although Johnson disagrees with the postconviction
court’s finding of credibility as to Burns, this Court has explained that it is “highly
- 41 -
deferential to a trial court’s judgment on the issue of credibility” based on the trial
court’s “superior vantage point.” Archer v. State, 934 So. 2d 1187, 1196 (Fla.
2006) (quoting State v. Spaziano, 692 So. 2d 174, 178 (Fla. 1997)). We conclude
that the postconviction court’s finding with respect to the Burns Letter is supported
by competent, substantial evidence.
Burns testified at the evidentiary hearing that the “primary purpose” of the
letter was for him to “show Mr. Vitale that, hey, I am bringing up these issues to
[the State] that are concerning you and the ball is in their court. I am not letting
you down. I am not failing to do what you want me to do. So it is kind of a dual-
purpose communication, if you will.” Burns further testified that he “never really
regarded [Vitale] as being completely patient and completely under my control and
guidance.” Further, Burns emphatically denied that Vitale was acting as an agent
of the State in eliciting statements from Johnson: “Whatever correspondence
occurred between them was completely organic between the two of them. It was at
nobody’s instruction.”
With respect to the reference in the letter of getting Johnson to “confess on
tape,” Burns testified that wearing a wire was Vitale’s idea. Vitale also testified at
the evidentiary hearing that wearing a wire was his idea and that he did not have
any discussions with the State about the idea. Rather, he stated that he had directed
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his counsel, Burns, to speak to the State about it, but Burns did not think it was a
good idea and had failed to relay the message.
To the extent that Johnson relies on the evidentiary hearing testimony of his
defense counsel explaining what they interpreted the Burns Letter to mean, this
speculation does not constitute evidence of its purpose and meaning. Further, each
of Johnson’s trial counsel testified that he did not know or have any direct
knowledge of whether Vitale was acting as a State agent.
As his second piece of evidence in support of this claim, Johnson points to
letters from Vitale written directly to the State. Johnson argues that the State was
made aware, through Vitale’s letters directly to the State, of the letter writing
campaign between Vitale and Johnson, and did nothing to dissuade Vitale’s
conduct. However, passive knowledge and failure to dissuade Vitale from writing
letters to Johnson does not rise to the level of the “deliberately elicited” standard.
The United States Supreme Court has explained that a defendant does not make out
a Massiah violation “simply by showing that an informant, either through prior
arrangement or voluntarily, reported [the defendant’s] incriminating statements to
the police. Rather, the defendant must demonstrate that the police and their
informant took some action, beyond merely listening, that was designed
deliberately to elicit incriminating remarks.” Kuhlmann, 477 U.S. at 459. As the
postconviction court found, “[t]here is no evidence that the prosecutors initiated
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the contact or responded to Vitale.” Indeed, the record is clear that Johnson
actually initiated the letter writing between himself and Vitale.
The third primary piece of evidence on which Johnson relies is that the State
investigator, Hamrick, visited Vitale in jail in October 2003 for the purpose of
obtaining the letters directly from Vitale. However, as the postconviction court
found, “[a]lthough there is reference to a jail visit by the State investigator, no
testimony of the investigator or prosecutors was offered to explain the purpose of
the visit. And the court declines to infer that the investigator’s visit was for the
purpose of enticing or arranging for Vitale to elicit incriminating evidence from
Johnson.”
In sum, we conclude that based on the evidence presented in this case,
Johnson has not demonstrated a Massiah violation.
F. Brady Claim
Johnson also contends that the State violated Brady by not disclosing the
Burns Letter. To demonstrate a Brady violation, Johnson must show that (1)
favorable evidence, either exculpatory or impeaching; (2) was willfully or
inadvertently suppressed by the State; and (3) because the evidence was material,
Johnson was prejudiced. See Strickler v. Greene, 527 U.S. 263, 281-82 (1999); see
also Way v. State, 760 So. 2d 903, 910 (Fla. 2000). To meet the materiality prong,
Johnson must demonstrate “a reasonable probability that the jury verdict would
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have been different had the suppressed information been used at trial.” Smith v.
State, 931 So. 2d 790, 796 (Fla. 2006) (citing Strickler, 527 U.S. at 289, 296). A
reasonable probability is a probability sufficient to undermine confidence in the
outcome. See Way, 760 So. 2d at 913; see also Strickler, 527 U.S. at 289-90. In
reviewing a Brady claim, “this Court defers to the factual findings made by the
trial court to the extent they are supported by competent, substantial evidence, but
reviews de novo the application of those facts to the law.” Lightbourne v. State,
841 So. 2d 431, 437 (Fla. 2003).
We conclude that the first two prongs of Brady are met. As to the first
prong, the Burns Letter was favorable evidence, as it indicated that Vitale had a
demonstrative motive to keep writing to Johnson as well as to testify in the case. It
should have been disclosed by the State. As to the second prong, the evidence
demonstrates that the Burns Letter was not disclosed to trial counsel. None of
Johnson’s trial attorneys recalled seeing the Burns Letter before postconviction
counsel showed it to them.
We conclude, however, that Johnson’s claim is without merit because
Johnson cannot demonstrate the third and final prong—prejudice. Although the
Burns Letter provided additional evidence of Vitale’s motive to testify, Vitale’s
motive to testify in exchange for a favorable plea agreement was already disclosed
to the jury, and the Burns Letter simply discloses that Vitale desired to work with
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the State in order to obtain a confession from Johnson in exchange for a lighter
sentence. Accordingly, we deny this claim.
G. Giglio Claim
Johnson references Giglio 10 in his briefs, but does not make a specific
argument for a Giglio violation other than stating that an agreement with a
government witness for testimony in exchange for favorable treatment should be
disclosed. This claim is insufficiently argued. See Victorino v. State, 23 So. 3d
87, 103 (Fla. 2009). Moreover, even considering the merits of this claim, Johnson
is not entitled to relief. As found by the postconviction court and discussed above,
there is insufficient evidence that Vitale was working as a State agent. Further, the
details of the plea agreement between Vitale and the State were disclosed at trial.
III. Cumulative Error in the Guilt Phase
In his next claim, Johnson contends that cumulative error requires reversal,
raising this claim only as to his guilt-phase ineffective assistance of counsel claims.
However, Johnson “is not entitled to relief on his cumulative error claim because
10. To establish a Giglio violation, it must be shown that: “(1) the testimony
given was false; (2) the prosecutor knew the testimony was false; and (3) the
statement was material.” Guzman v. State, 868 So. 2d 498, 505 (Fla. 2003).
“[T]he false evidence is material ‘if there is any reasonable likelihood that the false
testimony could have affected the judgment of the jury.’ ” Id. at 506 (quoting
United States v. Agurs, 427 U.S. 97, 103 (1976)). “The State, as the beneficiary of
the Giglio violation, bears the burden to prove that the presentation of false
testimony at trial was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.” Id.
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the alleged individual claims of error are all without merit, and, therefore, the
contention of cumulative error is similarly without merit.” Dufour v. State, 905
So. 2d 42, 65 (Fla. 2005).
IV. Penalty-Phase Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claim
In this claim, Johnson contends that his trial counsel were ineffective for
failing to promptly investigate and prepare mitigation. Johnson also argues that his
trial counsel were ineffective in failing to effectively present mitigation evidence.
He asserts, in essence, that although trial counsel presented evidence in support of
statutory mitigation that was rejected by the trial court, trial counsel could have
done a better job. He also argues that although Dr. Williams—the expert who
testified at trial—found evidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as
reflected in a written report, trial counsel simply did nothing with it. This claim is
without merit.
At the evidentiary hearing, Johnson presented testimony on this issue from
Garland (the defense counsel who handled the mitigation aspects of trial), Dr.
Jethro Toomer (an expert in clinical and forensic psychology), and Danielle Blount
Fernandez (Johnson’s sister who testified at trial). Johnson also introduced into
evidence two reports written by Dr. Williams.
A. Failure to Investigate and Prepare Mental Mitigation
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Johnson claims that trial counsel were ineffective for failing to “promptly”
investigate and prepare mental mitigation. In support, he contends that as of a
status hearing in October 2003, trial counsel informed the court that they had yet to
provide the experts with any records or obtain or review any records themselves.
However, the penalty phase of the trial took place in June 2004—eight months
after the October 2003 status hearing. Thus, this is not a case where the evidence
demonstrates that investigation and preparation did not begin until shortly before
the penalty-phase trial.
Under the facts of this case, although trial counsel may have failed to
investigate and prepare mental health mitigation as “promptly” as Johnson believes
counsel should have done, this does not per se render counsel deficient in
investigation and preparation, as Johnson appears to contend. Indeed, Johnson
does not specifically point to any mental health mitigation that should have been
uncovered but was not due to a lack of investigation or preparation. Significantly,
the postconviction court found that Dr. Toomer, the expert presented at the
evidentiary hearing, did not testify to any new facts that were unknown to Dr.
Williams or Dr. Brugnoli (who had conducted neuropsychological testing but did
not testify at trial) at the time of their pretrial evaluations.
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Accordingly, we conclude that Johnson has not demonstrated that his
counsel were deficient in failing to investigate and prepare mitigation. 11
B. Failure to Effectively Present Mental Mitigation
Johnson’s claim regarding the failure to present mental mitigation is in
essence twofold: (1) although Dr. Williams diagnosed Johnson with PTSD, trial
counsel failed to utilize this information at trial; and (2) trial counsel failed to
effectively utilize available mental health mitigation at trial to paint a detailed
picture of Johnson’s mental health and how it affected him at the time of the crime.
11. In his Reply Brief, Johnson raises for the first time three additional
claims that counsel were deficient because they (a) did not hire a mitigation
specialist, (b) failed to adequately prepare Johnson’s sister for her deposition,
meeting with Dr. Williams, or her trial testimony, and (c) failed to timely and
adequately provide Johnson’s mental health experts with all the necessary records
and information. An issue may not be raised for the first time in a reply brief.
Hoskins v. State, 75 So. 3d 250, 257 (Fla. 2011) (“[T]his argument was not raised
in the initial brief filed here. Accordingly, the claim is barred.”).
Further, these arguments are without merit. Trial counsel is not deficient
simply because he did not hire a mitigation specialist. See id. at 256 (“[T]o the
extent Hoskins argues that counsel was deficient solely for failing to hire a
mitigation specialist, the claim is conclusory. Failure to use an ‘expert’ in
mitigation investigation does not per se constitute ineffective assistance.”).
Regarding Johnson’s sister, Johnson again offers only conclusory arguments.
Further, Johnson’s sister testified the same at the evidentiary hearing as she did
during the trial. Finally, with respect to trial counsels’ failure to provide Johnson’s
mental health experts with all the necessary records and information, Johnson does
not point to what specific records or information trial counsel failed to provide.
Moreover, Dr. Toomer in his evidentiary hearing testimony did not point to any
additional facts or information that were not known or provided to Dr. Williams.
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With respect to PTSD, Johnson contends that evidence of Johnson’s PTSD
was in Dr. Williams’s report, but that trial counsel simply did nothing with it.
However, it is important to be clear that Dr. Williams’s trial testimony regarding
PTSD—namely, that Johnson’s background suggested that he may have
experienced PTSD throughout his childhood—was consistent with Dr. Williams’s
written reports. Dr. Williams did not diagnose Johnson with having PTSD at the
time of the murder in either his written reports or his trial testimony. Simply put,
the trial record reflects that trial counsel presented the substance of Dr. Williams’s
written reports to the jury.
In contrast to Dr. Williams, Dr. Toomer diagnosed Johnson with PTSD and
explained how PTSD affected Johnson’s behavior in adulthood. To the extent that
Johnson relies on Dr. Toomer’s differing diagnosis with respect to PTSD, he has
failed to establish deficiency. Experts often have different diagnoses and arrive at
different conclusions, as acknowledged by Dr. Toomer during the evidentiary
hearing. The fact that Johnson has “now secured the testimony of [a] more
favorable mental health expert[] simply does not establish that the original
evaluations were insufficient.” Carroll v. State, 815 So. 2d 601, 618 (Fla. 2002).
In conclusion, Johnson “did not prove that a reasonable trial attorney should have
known to not rely on the conclusions offered by the mental health experts who
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evaluated him [prior to trial]. Thus, he did not prove that his counsel [were]
deficient.” Stewart v. State, 37 So. 3d 243, 253 (Fla. 2010).
Turning to Johnson’s claim that his trial counsel failed to effectively utilize
available mental health mitigation at trial, except for the difference in opinion with
respect to PTSD, Dr. Toomer’s testimony regarding the diagnoses at the
evidentiary hearing largely mirrored that of Dr. Williams at trial. Indeed, Dr.
Toomer admitted as much at the evidentiary hearing. Dr. Toomer also opined as to
the existence of the same two statutory mental health mitigators as Dr. Williams in
his report and at trial, which were rejected by the trial court. Dr. Toomer further
testified that he “agree[d] with Dr. Williams’ assessment,” other than not seeing in
his report that the PTSD factors impacted his final decision.
The crux of Johnson’s argument on this point is that Dr. Toomer did a better
job of presenting his findings than Dr. Williams and that trial counsel should have
utilized Dr. Williams more effectively at trial. However, the record reflects that
trial counsel consulted with two mental health experts (Dr. Williams and Dr.
Brugnoli) and made a strategic decision as to which expert to present at trial. More
importantly, trial counsels’ reliance on their retained expert, Dr. Williams, is not
unreasonable simply because another expert presented better testimony of
essentially and largely the same diagnoses in postconviction proceedings. This
Court has “established that defense counsel is entitled to rely on the evaluations
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conducted by qualified mental health experts, even if, in retrospect, those
evaluations may not have been as complete as others may desire.” Reese v. State,
14 So. 3d 913, 918 (Fla. 2009) (quoting Darling v. State, 966 So. 2d 366, 377 (Fla.
2007)); see also Stewart, 37 So. 3d at 252-53 (“[T]rial counsel’s reliance on his
retained experts is not proven unreasonable simply because another expert, in this
case Dr. Eisenstein, questions the thoroughness of the prior evaluations.”).
Further, “[t]rial counsel’s investigation into mental-health mitigation ‘is not
rendered incompetent merely because the defendant has now secured the testimony
of a more favorable mental health expert.’ ” Floyd v. State, 18 So. 3d 432, 454
(Fla. 2009) (quoting Asay v. State, 769 So. 2d 974, 986 (Fla. 2000)).
Finally, Johnson did not present any additional non-expert testimony at the
evidentiary hearing that was not presented at trial. He presented testimony from
Johnson’s sister, Danielle Blount Fernandez, who had testified at trial. However,
she acknowledged on cross-examination that she did not testify during the
evidentiary hearing to anything new or different than what she testified to at trial
regarding her and Johnson’s background or childhood.
In sum, Dr. Williams testified at trial in a manner consistent with his written
reports, including his determination that while Johnson suffered symptoms of
PTSD throughout childhood, those symptoms dissipated before Johnson became a
teenager. Further, the expert testimony that Johnson presented at the evidentiary
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hearing from Dr. Toomer was similar—and therefore largely cumulative—to that
of Dr. Williams, with the exception of an affirmative diagnosis of PTSD.
Significantly, Dr. Toomer did not rely on any new facts or information not known
to Dr. Williams. Finally, although Johnson presented testimony from his sister at
the evidentiary hearing, she gave the same testimony as she did at trial.
Accordingly, we conclude that Johnson has failed to establish that his trial counsel
were deficient with respect to the presentation of mental health mitigation during
the penalty phase.
V. Habeas Corpus Petition
In his habeas corpus petition, Johnson contends that his appellate counsel
was ineffective for failing to raise as an issue on direct appeal the trial court’s
denial of a motion to suppress Johnson’s statement to law enforcement in which he
confessed to the murder. Specifically, Johnson claims that after he waived his
Miranda rights, law enforcement failed to scrupulously honor his unequivocal
request to invoke his right to remain silent. He also argues that law enforcement
used promises and coercion to induce Johnson to continue being interrogated.
To be entitled to habeas relief on the basis of ineffectiveness of appellate
counsel, the defendant must show:
[First] the alleged omissions are of such magnitude as to constitute a
serious error or substantial deficiency falling measurably outside the
range of professionally acceptable performance and, second, whether
the deficiency in performance compromised the appellate process to
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such a degree as to undermine confidence in the correctness of the
result.
Bradley v. State, 33 So. 3d 664, 684 (Fla. 2010) (quoting Pope v. Wainwright, 496
So. 2d 798, 800 (Fla. 1986)). In order to meet this standard, the defendant must
meet his or her “burden of alleging a specific, serious omission or overt act upon
which the claim of ineffective assistance of counsel can be based.” Anderson v.
State, 18 So. 3d 501, 520 (Fla. 2009) (quoting Freeman v. State, 761 So. 2d 1055,
1069 (Fla. 2000)). Importantly, “[i]f a legal issue ‘would in all probability have
been found to be without merit’ had counsel raised the issue on direct appeal, the
failure of appellate counsel to raise the meritless issue will not render appellate
counsel’s performance ineffective.” Walls v. State, 926 So. 2d 1156, 1175-76 (Fla.
2006) (quoting Rutherford v. Moore, 774 So. 2d 637, 643 (Fla. 2000)).
Johnson’s primary contention is that Detective Flaherty failed to
scrupulously honor Johnson’s termination of the interview as reflected below:
JOHNSON: I don’t want to say no more.
DETECTIVE FLAHERTY: You sure?
JOHNSON: Yes.
DETECTIVE FLAHERTY: If you’re sure, that’s your right.
JOHNSON: Can I have a cigarette, please?
DETECTIVE FLAHERTY: I don’t have cigarettes here. We’ll
see if I can get one for you.
JOHNSON: I know I did not pull a knife on her.
Johnson’s statement, “I don’t want to say no more” was clearly unequivocal. See
Cuervo v. State, 967 So. 2d 155, 162-63 (Fla. 2007) (holding that defendant’s
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statement of “No quiero declarar nada,” which means “I don’t want to declare
anything,” was “a clear invocation of the right to remain silent”). At that point,
“the police officer’s obligation was clear: to immediately cease questioning and
scrupulously honor [the defendant’s] exercise of his right to remain silent.” Id. at
164. This Court has explained that
[a]fter a suspect invokes his or her Miranda rights, police officers are
prohibited from engaging in words or actions that the officers “should
know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating response from
the suspect.” The prohibition on further questioning applies not only
when the defendant requests counsel, but also when the defendant
exercises his or her right to remain silent.
Id. (quoting Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 301 (1980)). This Court has
recently elaborated:
Police fail to scrupulously honor a defendant’s invocation of the right
to remain silent, and therefore violate that right, when, in the face of
the invocation of that right, the police persistently and repeatedly
engage in efforts to wear down a suspect’s resistance and make the
suspect change his or her mind.
Deviney v. State, 112 So. 3d 57, 74 (Fla. 2013) (citing Michigan v. Mosley, 423
U.S. 96, 105-06 (1975)), cert. denied, 134 S. Ct. 518 (2013).
The record in this case demonstrates that Detective Flaherty did not
“persistently and repeatedly engage in efforts” to wear down Johnson’s resistance
and make him change his mind, id., nor did Detective Flaherty engage “in words or
actions that [he] ‘should know are reasonably likely to elicit an incriminating
- 55 -
response’ ” from Johnson. Cuervo, 967 So. 2d at 164 (quoting Innis, 446 U.S. at
301).
The facts of this case stand in stark contrast to cases in which this Court has
held that law enforcement did not scrupulously honor a defendant’s invocation of
the right to remain silent. For example, in Cuervo, this Court held that the
defendant’s unequivocal invocation of his right to remain silent was not
scrupulously honored where law enforcement followed the invocation with having
the defendant sign a Miranda rights form and informing the defendant that this was
his opportunity to speak and explain his side of the story. Id. at 164-67. This
Court reasoned:
[T]he officers engaged in conduct they could reasonably anticipate
would elicit an incriminating response. After Cuervo invoked his
right to remain silent and signed the rights form, [Detective] Palmieri
instructed [Deputy] Garcia to tell Cuervo that he could give “his side
of the story.” Garcia then told Cuervo, “[N]ow would be your
opportunity if you wish to speak and explain your side of your story,
your version of what happened.” * Garcia added that although
Cuervo was not obligated to talk, if he wished to talk “there’s still
time.” * These remarks undermined the warning to Cuervo that
anything he said could be used against him in a court of law. In
addition, the officer’s statement created the impression that, despite
his expressed desire not to talk, Cuervo had a brief window in which
to vindicate himself. Cuervo again declined to talk, but significantly,
he felt compelled to provide an explanation for foregoing this
“opportunity” to tell his “side of the story.”
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Id. at 164-65. Another contrasting example is Deviney, in which, after the
defendant repeatedly stated, “I’m done,” and attempted to end questioning by
leaving the interrogation room,
[t]he detectives responded by informing him that he was no longer
free to leave because they were now formally taking him into custody
and legally detaining him for the murder . . . . The detectives
subsequently frisked Deviney, after which he stood and, more
vehemently, attempted to end questioning by leaving the interview
room. The detectives, however, blocked his exit and, with the threat
of physical restraint, compelled him to sit down and remain in his
seat. The detectives did not re-administer Miranda warnings, nor did
they cease questioning. Instead, the interrogation continued and, upon
repeated questioning, Deviney confessed to [the] murder to both the
police and his mother.
Deviney, 112 So. 3d at 78.
Here, Detective Flaherty asked, “You sure?” and, when Johnson stated,
“Yes,” Detective Flaherty responded, “If you’re sure, that’s your right.” Johnson
then asked for a cigarette and Detective Flaherty responded that he would see if he
could get one for Johnson. Detective Flaherty did not resume questioning of any
kind or make any statements to Johnson. It was Johnson who then reinitiated the
interview about the crime on his own, stating “I know I did not pull a knife on
her.” We conclude that the trial court did not err in denying Johnson’s motion to
- 57 -
suppress, and appellate counsel was therefore not deficient for failing to raise this
meritless issue on direct appeal. Walls, 926 So. 2d at 1175-76. 12
The record also does not support Johnson’s claim that law enforcement
made promises to Johnson in exchange for his cooperation. Detective Flaherty
informed Johnson prior to his invocation of his right to remain silent that Vitale
had already told law enforcement that Johnson committed the murder and that this
was Johnson’s chance to “help yourself.” Johnson then stated: “Help myself, huh?
Can I smoke a cigarette?” Detective Flaherty responded: “After we chat.” This is
the portion of the record that Johnson cites in arguing that Johnson was previously
promised a cigarette if he talked to the police. However, the record clearly shows
that Johnson was not promised a cigarette in exchange for confessing or speaking
with the police. We also note that both detectives who interrogated Johnson
testified that they did not make any promises to Johnson in exchange for his
cooperation and that they did not coerce or intimidate him in any way.
12. Johnson raises some additional arguments for the first time in his Reply
Brief, including that Johnson “tripped” while being handcuffed by Detective
Griffith and that Detective Flaherty’s conduct was intimidating because he
maintained “close proximity” to Johnson throughout the interview. Because these
arguments are raised for the first time in Johnson’s Reply Brief, they are barred.
See Hoskins, 75 So. 3d at 257. Further, the record does not contain any indication
that Johnson was purposefully “tripped” while being handcuffed or that Detective
Flaherty’s conduct was intimidating.
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Regardless of whether the portion of the interview after Johnson stated that
he did not want to say “no more” should have been suppressed, any error would
have clearly been harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. See Deviney, 112 So. 3d at
79 (“Miranda violations are subject to a harmless error analysis.”). Johnson argues
that the error cannot be harmless because without his confession, “the [S]tate’s
evidence would have relied almost exclusively” on Vitale’s testimony and
“[w]ithout Mr. Johnson’s confession, the [S]tate’s case became threadbare and the
result on trial would have been different.” However, Johnson overlooks that he
confessed to killing the victim before he invoked his right to remain silent.
Johnson then made similar statements afterwards.
Johnson denied mutilating the victim’s body both before and after the
invocation of his right to remain silent. Moreover, the additional information
elicited after the invocation of the right to remain silent consisted of additional
details of what transpired the evening and morning before the victim was killed, as
well as Johnson’s statements about his efforts to dispose of the body. This
additional information, however, was also provided by extensive testimony
introduced at trial, which largely corroborated Vitale’s testimony as to these
details. Appellate counsel cannot be deficient for failing to raise a meritless claim
on direct appeal. See Rutherford, 774 So. 2d at 643. Thus, Johnson is not entitled
to relief on this claim.
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CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the postconviction court’s denial of relief,
and we also deny Johnson’s habeas petition.
It is so ordered.
POLSTON, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, LABARGA,
and PERRY, JJ., concur.
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND
IF FILED, DETERMINED.
Two Cases:
An Appeal from the Circuit Court in and for St. Lucie County,
Dwight Luther Geiger, Judge - Case No. 562001CF000793A
And an Original Proceeding – Habeas Corpus
Craig J. Trocino, Special Assistant, and Scott Gavin, Staff Attorney, CCRC-South,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida,
for Appellant/Petitioner
Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida; Lisa-Marie Lerner,
Assistant Assistant Attorney General, West Palm Beach, Florida,
for Appellee/Respondent
- 60 -