State of Louisiana v. Douglas Scott Holley

Louisiana Court of Appeal·Decided April 22, 2020·No. 53,405-KA 53,406-KA 53,407-KA·Published

Opinion

Judgment rendered April 22, 2020.

Application for rehearing may be filed within the delay allowed by Art. 922, La. C. Cr. P.

No. 53,405-KA

No. 53,406-KA

No. 53,407-KA

(Consolidated Cases)

COURT OF APPEAL

SECOND CIRCUIT

STATE OF LOUISIANA

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STATE OF LOUISIANA Appellee versus

DOUGLAS SCOTT HOLLEY Appellant

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Appealed from the

Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Court for the Parish of Bossier, Louisiana Trial Court No. 216315

Honorable Allen Parker Self, Jr., Judge

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LOUISIANA APPELLATE PROJECT Counsel for Appellant By: Peggy J. Sullivan

JOHN SCHUYLER MARVIN Counsel for Appellee District Attorney

JOHN MICHAEL LAWRENCE RICHARD RUSSELL RAY Assistant District Attorneys

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Before MOORE, STONE, and McCALLUM, JJ.

STONE, J.

In this criminal case, Douglas Holley (“Holley”) was found guilty as charged of two counts of attempted first degree murder; two counts of manufacture or possession of a bomb; and one count of aggravated arson. He was sentenced to a cumulative term of 105 years of imprisonment at hard labor, 92 years of which were without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Holley now appeals his convictions and sentences.

For the reasons stated hereinafter, his convictions for attempted first degree murder are reduced to convictions for attempted second degree murder, and his remaining convictions are affirmed. The sentences for manufacture or possession of a bomb are hereby modified to delete the restriction of benefits. His remaining sentences are affirmed.

FACTS

The victims in this case, Robert Hewlett and Tracy Hewlett, own and operate a horse farm. Additionally, Robert Hewlett is a veterinarian (“Dr. Hewlett”). For several years preceding the incident, Holley was the groundskeeper for the Hewletts’ farm, and he lived in a rent house on the Hewlett property. The Hewletts trusted Holley – he had access to their home when they were away and had access to all of the farm. Holley even celebrated Christmas and Thanksgiving with the Hewletts.

Holley owned a horse named Charlie; she lived in a fenced area near his rent house. Charlie became sick with colic, and Dr. Hewlett advised that he could not help Charlie and suggested that euthanasia would be best for her. After Charlie’s death, Holley spiraled into an enduring, vengeful rage toward Dr. Hewlett, blaming him for Charlie’s suffering and death.

Holley plotted an elaborate vengeance against Dr. Hewlett for this perceived wrongdoing. Holley manufactured two pipe bombs, which included fishing weights as shrapnel for additional lethality. While the Hewletts were away from home he planted them under the subfloor of the Hewletts’ pier and beam home, directly under the Hewletts’ bed. When the Hewletts arrived home, on December 19, 2015, Holley waited until 3:00 AM – a time when he figured they would be in bed. Holley was correct. The Hewletts were in bed, and Holley remotely detonated the two pipe bombs. The blast made a hole through the floor of the Hewletts’ bedroom and through the box spring of their bed. Miraculously, however, the high- density foam mattress protected the Hewletts from the blast; they were thrown out of the bed but physically unharmed. Ms. Hewlett, however, later received counseling for posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety.

The investigation quickly revealed that bombs had caused the explosion in the Hewletts’ bedroom. Shrapnel was found embedded in objects throughout the Hewletts’ bedroom. Shrapnel had even made holes in the plumbing pipes beneath the Hewletts’ bedroom floor. Remnants of the bombs, including pieces of galvanized steel, exploded PVC pipe, deformed aluminum sheet metal, wire pieces with alligator clips attached, a modified extension cord with hot glue on it, burnt black electrical tape, and a destroyed timer were discovered at the blast site. Items recovered from the blast site tested positive for triacetone triperoxide (“TATP”), a type of primary high explosive.

Holley’s rent house was searched and was found to contain a plethora of bomb-making materials which were consistent with those recovered from the blast site. Holley’s cell phone revealed that he had researched bomb-

making, and had taken pictures of his bombs and bomb-making materials. Holley’s diary and cell phone contained notes wherein he detailed Charlie’s sickness and death, and his gruesome, murderous intentions toward Dr. Hewlett.

Holley admitted in the videotaped interview that he had previously worked on the insulation underneath the Hewletts’ home, that he held Dr. Hewlett responsible for Charlie’s death, and wanted revenge. He also admitted that he used his cell phone to research bombs, rocket igniters, and various bombing events.

Holley was arrested for the bombing, and the prosecution filed numerous charges against him, including those on which he has been convicted. On March 28, 2018, Holley moved to dismiss the public defender appointed to represent him. Holley stated that after discussing the merits of his case with his appointed attorney, he did not feel that the attorney would “argue and fight for him.” The trial court ascertained that Holley was 56 years old and had completed high school, but had no legal education or training and had never represented himself in court before. Holley confirmed that he could read, write, and speak the English language, and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Holley stated that he understood the nature of the charges against him, and the penalties. Holley also stated that he understood that he would be “extremely disadvantaged” by his lack of legal knowledge and experience and admitted that he knew nothing about criminal prosecutions or trial and had no access to a law library. Despite acknowledging these disadvantages, Holley maintained that he felt as though he had no choice but to represent himself.

The trial court emphasized that Holley would be held to the same standard as attorneys and that the trial court was not permitted to give him legal advice or assistance. The trial court strongly urged Holley not to represent himself, but found that Holley had freely and voluntarily decided to waive his right to counsel and represent himself at trial. The trial court appointed an attorney to serve as standby counsel in the event Holley had any legal questions.

Trial began June 20, 2018. Holley declined the state’s offer of a 40-

year agreed sentence in exchange for a plea of guilty as charged to all five counts. Trial continued with the presentation of testimony and evidence.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty as charged on five counts.

Neither side requested polling. The trial court ordered a presentence investigation report.

At sentencing, the trial court reviewed Holley’s personal, educational, and criminal history, noting that he was a first-felony offender who was gainfully employed with the Hewletts for several years. The trial court noted the general facts and evidence of this case, specifically that Holley was angry after his horse’s death and sought revenge for his loss by manufacturing and detonating two bombs in an attempt to murder Robert and Tracy Hewlett. The trial judge noted that Holley’s personal comments made in his private “diary” entries were chilling and frightening and stated his belief that the Hewletts would never be safe. The trial judge stated that, after considering the evidence presented at trial and the information in Holley’s presentence investigation report, he concluded that it was necessary to remove Holley from normal society.

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