Iannarelli v. Young

2017 SD 71, 904 N.W.2d 82, 2017 S.D. LEXIS 151
CourtSouth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 8, 2017
Docket28151
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 2017 SD 71 (Iannarelli v. Young) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering South Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Iannarelli v. Young, 2017 SD 71, 904 N.W.2d 82, 2017 S.D. LEXIS 151 (S.D. 2017).

Opinion

WILBUR, Retired Justice

[¶1.] Habeas petitioner asserts denial of his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and Sixth Amendment right to counsel. We affirm.

Background

[¶2.] On February 16, 2007, Michael Ian-narelli murdered his disabled wife and raped his fourteen-year-old stepdaughter. Afterwards, he made a pot of coffee and called 911. Iannarelli told law enforcement that he had killed his wife. The State charged Iannarelli with first-degree murder and second-degree rape. The State indicated that it intended to seek the death penalty.

[¶3.] The circuit court appointed Attorney Roger Ellyson to represent Iannarelli. Attorney Ellyson had practiced law for over thirty years, including twenty years as a prosecutor. Attorney Ellyson informed Iannarelli of his rights and had him sign a document titled, “STATEMENT OF RIGHTS.” That document provided, in part, that if Iannarelli were to plead guilty he would waive certain rights, including “the right to not be compelled to incriminate yourself.”

[¶4.] Attorney Ellyson later testified that he explored the plausibility of an insanity defense. He moved the court to appoint an expert witness to conduct a psychiatric examination. The court granted the motion, and Attorney Ellyson hired Dr. Stephen Manlove, a forensic psychiatrist. Attorney Ellyson believed Dr. Man-love could identify mitigating factors if the insanity defense seemed unlikely. He asked Dr. Manlove to give an expert opinion on whether “Iannarelli was insane (as that term is defined by statute) at the time the alleged offenses (murder and rape) were committed” and whether Iannarelli “suffered from mental illness at the time the alleged offenses were committed.”

[¶5.] After Dr. Manlove issued his report, Attorney Ellyson realized that it would not support an insanity defense but would support a plea of guilty but mentally ill. In the report, Dr. Manlove had opined with reasonable medical certainty that Ian-narelli suffered from a major depressive disorder that impaired his judgment at the time, of the offense. Attorney Ellyson also believed that Dr. Manlove’s report contained mitigating evidence. He advised Iannarelli that an insanity defense would be unlikely and discussed a plea of guilty but mentally ill. Iannarelli has an IQ-in the 99th percentile, and at all times Attorney Ellyson believed Iannarelli understood what was being told to him.

[¶6.] Ultimately, Iannarelli agreed to plead guilty but mentally ill to first-degree manslaughter and to second-degree rape in exchange for the State amending the charge and not seeking the death penalty. Iannarelli entered into a written plea agreement, which contained a section titled, “WAIVER OF RIGHTS.” In that waiver, Iannarelli indicated that he “fully understand^] that by entry of the. pleas of guilty BUT MENTALLY ILL herein, he will have waived ... his right to remain silent[.]” The parties submitted the plea agreement to the circuit court. Iannarelli also submitted an affidavit and report from Dr. Manlove in lieu of a factual basis to establish his plea of guilty but mentally ill.

[¶7.] On October 11, 2007, the court held a plea hearing. At the hearing, Iannarelli indicated his intent to plead guilty but mentally ill. The court took a recess and reconvened for a hearing on Iannarelli’s mental health. The State and Iannarelli stipulated to the submission of Dr. Man-love’s report as evidence- of Iannarelli’s mental health. The court reviewed the report and found that Iannarelli was mentally ill at the time of the offenses as defined in SDCL 22-1-2(24). The court also found a factual basis for each plea and concluded that Iannarelli’s guilty but mentally ill pleas were voluntary, intelligent, and knowing. The court accepted Iannarelli’s plea, of guilty but mentally ill to first-degree manslaughter and second-degree rape.

[¶8.] The court ordered Iannarelli to participate in a presentence investigation. The court indicated that as part of that presentence investigation and in consultation with the court services officer, it would request a psychological evaluation to assist in sentencing. In response to a question by the State, the court agreed-that the psychological evaluation would- include a psychosexual evaluation.

[¶9.] Dr. Bradley Woldt, a clinical psychologist, evaluated Iannarelli. Dr. Woldt went through an informed-consent form with Iannarelli prior to the evaluation. Dr. Woldt later testified that Iannarelli indicated that he understood the form. Dr. Woldt conducted a mental-health assessment and psychosexual examination. Following the evaluation, Dr. Woldt issued a written opinion on Iannarelli’s diagnosis and likelihood of rehabilitation. He also included a risk assessment. Dr. Woldt agreed with Dr. Manlove that Iannarelli suffered from a major depressive disorder and was likely experiencing a major depressive episode at the time of the offense but disagreed that it was to the level of “severe with psychotic features,” as Dr. Manlove had opined. In Dr. Woldt’s opinion, Iannarelli posed a high risk to the community, and rehabilitation efforts would be lengthy and difficult. Dr. Woldt’s report was made part of the presentence investigation report.

[¶10.] On December 21, 2007, the circuit court held a sentencing hearing. The State' referred to Dr. Woldt’s report as support for imposition of the maximum possible sentences for Iannarelli’s crimes. Attorney Ellyson relied on Dr. Manlove’s report and argued for sentences less than the maximum. After hearing arguments from counsel and one victim-impact statement, the court imposed a 130-year sentence for first-degree manslaughter and., a 45-year sentence for second-degree rape.

[1111.] The court relied on the record evidence, including Dr. Manlove’s and Dr. Woldt’s reports. The court found Iannarel-li’s lack of previous criminal history and his mental illness to be mitigating factors. The court then noted the extremely violent nature of the crimes. In regard to Iannar-elli’s future risk to the 'public, the court referred to Dr. Woldt’s opinion that Ian-narelli is “a high risk to the public.” The court also considered Iannarelli’s prospects for rehabilitation. It referred to Iannarel-li’s diagnoses from Dr. Woldt and Dr. Manlove, as well as the other record evidence. In particular, the court noted.that “Dr. Woldt expresses the opinion that your prognosis is not good, You are likely not to be amenable to treatment. And prognosis is questionable at best. He also expresses the opinion that your rehabilitation will be lengthy and difficult. All of that, of course, would indicate to the [c]ourt that a substantial sentence is warranted here.”

[1112.] Iannarelli appealed his sentences, which we: affirmed in State v. Iannarelli, 2008 S.D. 121, 759 N.W.2d 122. On October 23, 2013, Iannarelli petitioned the circuit court for habeas relief. The habeas court appointed counsel and held a hearing on April 29, 2016. Iannarelli argued that Attorney Ellyson 'had deprived him of his Fifth and Sixth Amendment' rights by failing to challenge the use of Iannarelli’s unwarned and compelled statements to Dr. Woldt and because the sentencing court used those statements to impose its sentence.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Lacroix v. Fluke
2022 S.D. 29 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2022)
Wright v. Young
2019 S.D. 22 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 2019)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
2017 SD 71, 904 N.W.2d 82, 2017 S.D. LEXIS 151, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/iannarelli-v-young-sd-2017.