Tomlin v. State

516 So. 2d 790
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Alabama
DecidedJanuary 7, 1986
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 516 So. 2d 790 (Tomlin v. State) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Tomlin v. State, 516 So. 2d 790 (Ala. Ct. App. 1986).

Opinion

516 So.2d 790 (1986)

Phillip Wayne TOMLIN
v.
STATE.

1 Div. 23.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama.

January 7, 1986.
Rehearing Denied June 10, 1986.

James H. Lackey, Mobile, for appellant.

Charles A. Graddick, Atty. Gen., and Joseph G.L. Marston, Asst. Atty. Gen., for appellee.

ON RETURN TO REMAND ON REHEARING

TAYLOR, Judge.

Our original opinion on return to remand is withdrawn and this corrected opinion is to be substituted for that issued on November 12, 1985.

In the opinion of this court, written by Judge Bookout, filed November 20, 1979, this court held that certain aggravating circumstances found by the trial court in its order were not aggravating circumstances as defined in § 13-11-6, Code of Alabama 1975. See, Tomlin v. State, 443 So.2d 47 (Ala.Cr.App.1979), aff'd, 443 So.2d 59 (Ala.1983). This court further found that as to another aggravating circumstance, the trial court was required to set out the basis of such a finding. This court further found that to negate one of the mitigating circumstances the trial court was called upon to determine whether the appellant had a "significant history of prior criminal activity," as that phrase has been employed. This court further noted that the trial court's order did not contain a statement of the "findings of fact from the trial" as required by § 13-11-4, Code of Alabama 1975. The court concluded:

"[D]ue to the deficiencies in the sentencing order, this cause must be remanded *791 with directions that the trial court's order be extended to include findings of fact from the trial and sentence hearing and for a correction of aggravating and mitigating circumstances as defined by the statute and that such be transmitted to this court in answer to the instant remand."

In response to this order, the very able trial judge prepared and issued a document styled "Sentencing Findings and Order," which is contained in the transcript and which is set out as an appendix to this extended opinion.

We find that the actions of the trial court fully and completely comply with this court's instruction.

We must now determine whether the death sentence is appropriate.

Although this crime occurred prior to the effective date of the new criminal code, we have previously reviewed the propriety of the imposition of a death penalty as required by § 13A-5-53(a), Code of Alabama 1975. Baldwin v. Alabama, 456 So. 2d 117 (Ala.Cr.App.1983), aff'd, 456 So.2d 129 (Ala.1984), aff'd, 472 U.S. 372, 105 S.Ct. 2727, 86 L.Ed.2d 300 (1985). Our review must include a determination of the following questions:

(1) Was any error adversely affecting the rights of the defendant made in the sentence proceedings?
(2) Were the trial court's findings concerning the aggravating and mitigating circumstances supported by the evidence?
(3) Was the death penalty the proper sentence in this case?

As to the first question, we have reviewed the sentence proceedings and have found no error adversely affecting the defendant's rights. As to the second question, we have reviewed the record and are satisfied that the trial court's written findings concerning the aggravating and mitigating circumstances are fully supported by the evidence.

To answer the third question, whether the death penalty was properly imposed in this case, we must determine:

"(1) Whether the sentence of death was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor;
"(2) Whether an independent weighing of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances at the appellate level indicates that death was the proper sentence; and
"(3) Whether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the defendant."

Alabama Code § 13A-5-53(b) (1975); see also Beck v. State, 396 So.2d 645 (Ala. 1981).

There is nothing in the record before us which even intimates that the death penalty was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor.

Our independent weighing of the aggravating and mitigating circumstances leaves us with no doubt that the death penalty was appropriate in this case. The mitigating circumstances did not outweigh the aggravating circumstances. There was one statutory aggravating circumstance, that the "capital felony was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel." Code of Alabama 1975, § 13-11-6(8). There was no statutory mitigating circumstance. Finding none of the claims of the nonstatutory mitigating circumstances raised by appellant to have merit, we find that the mitigating circumstances did not outweigh the aggravating circumstances and that the death penalty was appropriate in this case. We agree with the trial court's finding that "[e]ven if every mitigating factor, claimed by the Defendant or suggested in any fashion by this case, were to be found by the Court, it would be more than counter-balanced by the other facts in this case."

In regard to the final determination this court must make, we find that the death penalty imposed on the defendant is not excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases. See, e.g., Hill v. State, 455 So.2d 930 (Ala.Cr.App.), aff'd, 455 So.2d 938 (Ala.), cert. denied, 469 U.S. 1098, 105 S.Ct. 607, 83 L.Ed.2d 716 (1984). *792 We have searched the record, as required by Rule 45A, A.R.A.P., and have found no error which adversely affected the rights of the defendant. The sentence of death was proper in this case. Therefore, the judgment of the trial court is due to be, and it is hereby, affirmed.

EXTENDED OPINION ON RETURN TO REMAND WITHDRAWN; OPINION SUBSTITUTED;

JUDGMENT AFFIRMED.

All the Judges concur.

APPENDIX

STATE OF ALABAMA, PLAINTIFF,

VS.

PHILLIP WAYNE TOMLIN, DEFENDANT.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF MOBILE COUNTY, ALABAMA

CASE NO. CC-77-001396

CAPITAL FELONY

SENTENCING FINDINGS AND ORDER

Following the jury's verdict finding the Defendant guilty of capital felony as charged in the indictment, this Court on, to wit, November 30, 1978, conducted a sentence hearing pursuant to Section 13-11-3, Code of Alabama, 1975.[*] After considering the evidence presented at trial and the matters presented at the sentencing hearing, this Court, on December 8, 1978, set the Defendant's sentence at death. On appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeals of Alabama affirmed the Defendant's conviction but remanded the cause for extension of the sentencing order by including findings of fact from the trial and sentence hearing and correction of the aggravating and mitigating circumstance findings. Tomlin v. State, 443 So.2d 47, 59 (Ala.Cr.App.,1979); affirmed 443 So.2d 59 (Ala.,1983); cert. den. [466] U.S. [954] [80] L.Ed.2d [545] [104] S.Ct. [2160], 52 U.S.L.Wk. 3776 (1984).

Now, this cause coming on for extension and correction of the sentencing order, pursuant to the mandate of the Court of Criminal Appeals, the Court, after consideration of the trial evidence and the matters presented at the sentence hearing and after a review of the transcript of the same, makes the following:

I.

GENERAL FINDINGS OF FACT

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