Johnny Shane Kormondy v. State of Florida , 154 So. 3d 341 ( 2015 )

Supreme Court of Florida
____________
No. SC14-2428
____________
JOHNNY SHANE KORMONDY,
Appellant,
vs.
STATE OF FLORIDA,
Appellee.
[January 5, 2015]
PER CURIAM.
Johnny Shane Kormondy, a prisoner under sentence of death and under an
active death warrant,1 appeals from an order denying his first successive motion for
postconviction relief filed pursuant to Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.851
after his death warrant was signed. We have jurisdiction. Art. V, § 3(b)(1), Fla.
Const. In this motion, Kormondy once again claims that he was not the shooter
and that his codefendant, Curtis Buffkin, who received a life sentence, was the
shooter and therefore more culpable. We have previously rejected alleged newly
1. On November 24, 2014, Governor Rick Scott issued Kormondy’s death
warrant. Kormondy’s execution is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2015, at
6:00 p.m.
discovered evidence of Buffkin’s testimony that he was the shooter of the victim in
this case. Kormondy v. State (Kormondy III), 983 So. 2d 418, 438-40 (Fla. 2007).
In this successive motion, Kormondy primarily reargues that newly discovered
evidence, consisting of affidavits from prison inmates that Buffkin told them he
was the shooter, supports a finding that he did not shoot the victim. Because
Kormondy claims he is less culpable, he contends that his death sentence should be
reduced to life imprisonment. We conclude that the affidavits from the prison
inmates do not meet the test for newly discovered evidence as they are not of such
nature that they would probably yield a life sentence. Kormondy is therefore not
entitled to relief.
In addition to the claim of newly discovered evidence, Kormondy raises a
claim of ineffective assistance of postconviction counsel, which we reject as not
cognizable in this state court proceeding. Banks v. State, 39 Fla. L. Weekly S661,
S662 (Fla. Nov. 3, 2014), cert. denied, 135 S. Ct. 511 (2014). Accordingly, for the
reasons we more fully explain below, we affirm the trial court’s order denying
Kormondy postconviction relief.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
The facts of this case are set forth in Kormondy’s direct appeal:
The victim Gary McAdams was murdered, with a single gunshot
wound to the back of his head, in the early morning of July 11, 1993
[in Pensacola, Florida]. He and his wife, Cecilia McAdams, had
returned home from Mrs. McAdams’ twenty-year high-school
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reunion. They heard a knock at the door. When Mr. McAdams
opened the door, Curtis Buffkin was there holding a gun. He forced
himself into the house. He ordered the couple to get on the kitchen
floor and keep their heads down. James Hazen and Johnny Kormondy
then entered the house. They both had socks on their hands. The
three intruders took personal valuables from the couple. The blinds
were closed and phone cords disconnected.
At this point, one of the intruders took Mrs. McAdams to a
bedroom in the back. He forced her to remove her dress. He then
forced her to perform oral sex on him. She was being held at gun
point.
Another of the intruders then entered the room. He was
described as having sandy-colored hair that hung down to the
collarbone. This intruder proceeded to rape Mrs. McAdams while the
first intruder again forced her to perform oral sex on him.
She was taken back to the kitchen, naked, and placed with her
husband. Subsequently, one of the intruders took Mrs. McAdams to
the bedroom and raped her. While he was raping her, a gunshot was
fired in the front of the house. Mrs. McAdams heard someone yell for
“Bubba” or “Buff” and the man stopped raping her and ran from the
bedroom. Mrs. McAdams then left the bedroom and was going
towards the front of the house when she heard a gunshot come from
the bedroom. When she arrived at the kitchen, she found her husband
on the floor with blood coming from the back of his head. The
medical examiner testified that Mr. McAdams’ death was caused by a
contact gunshot wound. This means that the barrel of the gun was
held to Mr. McAdams’ head.
Kormondy was married to Valerie Kormondy. They have one
child. After the murder, Mrs. Kormondy asked Kormondy to leave
the family home. He left and stayed with Willie Long. Kormondy
told Long about the murder and admitted that he had shot Mr.
McAdams. He explained, though, that the gun had gone off
accidentally. Long went to the police because of the $50,000 reward
for information.
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A grand jury indicted Kormondy, Buffkin, and Hazen on July
27, 1993. Each was ultimately tried separately. Buffkin was offered a
plea bargain by the State in return for assistance in the prosecution of
Kormondy and Hazen.
Kormondy v. State (Kormondy I), 703 So. 2d 454, 456-57 (Fla. 1997) (footnote
omitted).
Buffkin pled guilty to first-degree murder and received a life sentence.
Hazen v. State, 700 So. 2d 1207, 1208 (Fla. 1997). Buffkin did not testify at
Kormondy’s trial. In addition to implicating Kormondy as the shooter in his
statement to the police and in his deposition, Buffkin testified during Hazen’s trial
that Kormondy was the shooter. Kormondy III, 983 So. 2d at 426 n.1, 439. It was
“clear from Buffkin’s own testimony that he and Kormondy were the instigators of
this criminal episode” and that “[o]nce inside the home, the events proceeded as
‘[Buffkin] and Kormondy had talked about it.’ ” Hazen, 700 So. 2d at 1214.
Hazen testified at his own trial that Buffkin admitted to killing Mr. McAdams.
Kormondy v. Sec’y, Fla. Dep’t of Corrs. (Kormondy V), 688 F.3d 1244, 1269 (Fla.
11th Cir. 2012), cert. denied, 133 S. Ct. 764 (2012). Hazen was convicted of first-
degree murder, three counts of sexual battery with the use of a deadly weapon or
physical force, burglary of a dwelling with an assault or while armed, and robbery
while armed. Hazen, 700 So. 2d at 1208. The jury recommended a death sentence
for Hazen by a vote of seven-to-five, which the trial court followed. Id. In
Hazen’s direct appeal, we determined that Buffkin’s life sentence precluded a
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death sentence for Hazen. Id. at 1214. Because Buffkin was “a prime instigator”
and more culpable than Hazen, we determined that Hazen’s death sentence was
disproportional. Id. at 1211, 1214. Accordingly, we vacated Hazen’s death
sentence and remanded for the imposition of a life sentence on his murder
conviction without the possibility of parole for twenty-five years. Id. at 1215.
Kormondy has never denied being a participant in the criminal episode but
denied he was responsible for the murder or rape and claimed that Buffkin was
responsible. As this Court stated in Kormondy III, “Kormondy had continually
admitted his participation in the burglary and robbery. In fact, in the statement
made to law enforcement officers, which was presented to the jury by the State,
Kormondy admitted his involvement in both crimes.” 983 So. 2d at 431. “Officer
Hall testified that Kormondy told him in an unrecorded statement that Buffkin
fired the fatal shot and Hazen was in the back of the house with Mrs. McAdams.
In a tape-recorded confession played for the jury, Kormondy again said that
Buffkin shot the victim.” Kormondy I, 703 So. 2d at 456 n.1.
In July 1994, Kormondy was found guilty of first-degree murder, three
counts of sexual battery with the use of a deadly weapon or physical force,
burglary of a dwelling with an assault or while armed, and robbery while armed.
Id. at 457. At the penalty phase, the jury recommended a death sentence by a vote
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of eight to four. Id. The trial court ultimately followed the jury’s recommendation
and sentenced Kormondy to death. Id. at 458.
On direct appeal, Kormondy raised the following six claims: (1) the trial
court erred in allowing Deputy Allen Cotton to bolster Willie Long’s testimony;
(2) the trial court should have granted a judgment of acquittal as to the charge of
premeditated murder because the State’s own evidence failed to discount the
reasonable hypothesis that the shooting was accidental; (3) the trial court erred in
admitting bad character evidence in the form of unconvicted crimes or nonstatutory
aggravating circumstances; (4) the trial court erred in its treatment of aggravating
circumstances; (5) the trial court erred in its treatment of mitigation; and (6)
Kormondy’s death sentence was disproportionate. Id. at 458-60.
While we determined that the evidence could not support a finding of
premeditation as to the unlawful killing of Mr. McAdams, we affirmed
Kormondy’s conviction for first-degree murder because the record supported a
first-degree felony murder conviction. Id. at 460.2 Because we concluded that it
was reversible error for the jury to have heard that Kormondy said he would kill
William Long and Mrs. McAdams if he ever got out of jail, we vacated
Kormondy’s death sentence and remanded for a new penalty phase. Id. at 460,
2. This Court also affirmed Kormondy’s convictions for three counts of
armed sexual battery, one count of burglary of a dwelling with an assault and an
intent to commit a theft, and one count of armed robbery. Id. at 463.
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463. Although we stated that “we need not address the remaining [penalty-phase]
issues,” we noted “certain other errors that should be avoided in the new penalty-
phase proceeding.” Id. at 460.3
On remand, Kormondy “knowing[ly] and voluntarily waived his right to
present mitigation evidence.” Kormondy III, 983 So. 2d at 436. The new
sentencing jury recommended a sentence of death—again by an eight-to-four
vote—which the trial court again followed. Kormondy v. State (Kormondy II),
845 So. 2d 41, 46 (Fla. 2003). The trial court found that the following two
aggravators were established: (1) previous conviction of a felony involving the use
of threat or violence, namely, the robbery of Mr. and Mrs. McAdams or the sexual
battery of Mrs. McAdams; and (2) the crime for which Kormondy was being
sentenced was committed while he was engaged in or an accomplice in the
commission of an attempt to commit a crime of burglary. Id. at 48. The trial court
gave great weight to both aggravators. Id. In its sentencing order, the trial court
expressly found that “[t]he evidence establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that
Gary McAdams was killed by the discharge of a .38 caliber bullet fired at point
blank range by Defendant Kormondy from a pistol held to the head of Gary
3. We cautioned the trial court that (1) the cold, calculated, and
premeditated aggravator cannot be found if premeditation is not established; and
(2) a sentencing order must reflect only facts from the record in the particular case.
Id. at 463.
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McAdams.” State v. Kormondy, No. 93-3302 (Fla. 1st Cir. Ct. July 7, 1999)
(Sentencing Order, at 4). The trial court found no statutory mitigation and
considered and rejected several nonstatutory mitigators. Kormondy II, 845 So. 2d
at 48. The trial court “reject[ed] Kormondy’s argument that he was a minor
participant and less culpable than his accomplices.” Id. Having rejected all of
Kormondy’s claims, we affirmed Kormondy’s death sentence in the appeal of his
resentencing. Id. at 54.4 The United States Supreme Court denied certiorari.
Kormondy v. Florida, 540 U.S. 950 (2003).
4. Kormondy set forth the following seven issues:
(1) whether the death penalty is constitutional and whether this
sentence was proportional in this case given that (a) the codefendants,
Curtis Buffkin and James Hazen, were given life sentences and (b) the
death was caused by an accidental firing of the weapon; (2) whether
the resentencing trial and order violated this Court’s mandate from the
first appeal, violated principles of law protecting the accused from
having questions of ultimate fact relitigated against him, and violated
Kormondy’s rights by finding aggravators not tried or argued; (3)
whether the trial court reversibly erred in its mitigation findings
because the trial court defied this court’s mandate, committed legal
and factual errors, and contradicted itself; (4) whether the trial court
erred by allowing the State to present irrelevant, cumulative, and
unduly prejudicial collateral crime and nonstatutory aggravating
evidence about Kormondy’s capture by a canine unit more than a
week after the crime took place; (5) whether Kormondy was denied
his right to cross-examine and confront state witness Cecilia
McAdams concerning her ability to identify and distinguish the
perpetrators; (6) whether the introduction of compound victim impact
evidence, much of which was inadmissible, was fundamental error
that undermined the reliability of the jury’s recommendation; and (7)
whether the imposition of death in the absence of notice of the
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In August 2004, Kormondy filed an initial motion for postconviction relief
pursuant to Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure 3.850 and 3.851, which was
subsequently amended. Kormondy alleged a claim of newly discovered evidence
which consisted of Hazen claiming that he saw Buffkin holding a pistol against the
head of Mr. McAdams before he heard the gunshot and that Buffkin said it was an
accident. Kormondy also alleged newly discovered evidence that Buffkin stated
that he, not Kormondy, shot Mr. McAdams. In support, Kormondy attached an
affidavit from Buffkin.5
At the evidentiary hearing, which took place in 2005, Buffkin testified that
he accidentally killed Mr. McAdams. As this Court explained Buffkin’s
testimony, “Kormondy was in the kitchen with him searching Mrs. McAdams’
purse while Buffkin held the gun at Mr. McAdams’ head. Buffkin said that he
aggravators sought or found, or of jury findings of the aggravators and
death eligibility, offends due process and the protection against cruel
and unusual punishment under Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466(2000).
Id. at 46-47.
5. Buffkin’s March 30, 2005, affidavit, stated as follows:
On July 11, 1993, I Curtis Buffkin was holding the gun when Gary
got shot in the head. I didn’t try to kill him. It was an accident. I said
it was Shane Kormondy who kill[ed] Gary, but the truth was I was the
man who was with the gun when it went off. Shane Kormondy didn’t
kill Gary.
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bumped Mr. McAdams in the head with the gun and the gun fired.” Kormondy III,
983 So. 2d at 439.
The trial court denied Kormondy postconviction relief. Id. at 427. As to
Kormondy’s claim of newly discovered evidence, the trial court found that
Buffkin’s testimony at the evidentiary hearing was not credible, after comparing
the statement with all of the circumstances of the case, which consisted of
testimony from both William Long and Cecilia McAdams. Id. at 439. The trial
court therefore concluded that Buffkin’s evidentiary hearing testimony did not
warrant a new trial for Kormondy:
Mrs. McAdams’s testimony, and Mr. Long’s testimony regarding the
crimes in question carry far more weight than that of Buffkin. [B]oth
Mrs. McAdams and Long provided unwavering, credible testimony
regarding the crimes in question. Buffkin’s most recent testimony,
claiming that he threatened and kidnapped Hazen and [Kormondy] so
that they would participate in the crimes, and which contains inherent
contradictions, is simply unbelievable and of little weight.[6]
Buffkin’s testimony, when weighed with the other evidence adduced
at [Kormondy’s] trial, would not have changed the outcome of
[Kormondy’s] trial.
State v. Kormondy, No. 93-3302 (Fla. 1st Cir. Ct. June 20, 2005) (Order Denying
Defendant’s Amended Motion to Vacate Judgment of Conviction and Sentence, at
43). The trial court additionally found that Hazen’s recent statement was not
6. We note that Kormondy himself affirmed in open court during the new
penalty-phase proceeding that he and his counsel agreed that it “is not the case”
that Kormondy “acted under the extreme influence, dominion, duress, or control of
another.” Kormondy V, 688 F.3d at 1267.
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credible and that such evidence would not have led to an acquittal or resulted in a
different sentence for Kormondy. Kormondy III, 983 So. 2d at 439.
On appeal of the denial of relief, Kormondy argued that the trial court erred
by determining that the newly discovered evidence was not credible and that it
would not have changed the outcome of the trial. Id. at 437.7 We first noted that
“[o]n three occasions Buffkin said Kormondy shot Mr. McAdams—in his
statement to law enforcement officers, at his deposition, and at Hazen’s trial.” Id.
at 439. This Court concluded, “Based on the evidence presented at the hearing, the
7. Kormondy raised the following eleven issues on appeal:
(1) trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance during the guilt phase
of trial by failing to require Kormondy’s presence at pretrial
conferences; (2) trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by
allowing Kormondy’s statements to law enforcement officers to be
introduced into evidence; (3) trial counsel rendered ineffective
assistance by conceding Kormondy’s guilt for burglary and robbery;
(4) trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance by failing to impeach
the State’s witnesses; (5) trial counsel rendered ineffective assistance
by failing to move for the disqualification of Judge Kuder and failing
to withdraw from representation before the first trial; (6) trial counsel
rendered ineffective assistance during the second penalty phase; (7)
[the] trial court erred by finding that the newly discovered evidence of
recanted testimony was not credible; (8) rule 4–3.5(d)(4) of the Rules
Regulating the Florida Bar, which prevents counsel from contacting
jurors, is unconstitutional; (9) execution by electrocution and lethal
injection are cruel or unusual punishment or both; (10) his
constitutional right against cruel and unusual punishment will be
violated as he may be incompetent at the time of execution; and (11)
the cumulative effect of errors deprived Kormondy of a fair trial.
Id. at 427-28.
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evidence presented at trial, and the circumstances presented, the trial court properly
found that Buffkin’s recent statement was not credible and it would not have
changed the outcome of Kormondy’s trial or penalty phase.” Id. at 440. In
addition, we determined that the evidence supported the trial court’s denial of relief
on the claim as it related to Hazen’s recent statement. Id. at 439. We also
explained that “there is corroborating evidence to demonstrate that Kormondy was
the shooter”:
The evidence concerning the identity of the shooter comes from
both the testimony of Mrs. McAdams and William Long. Long
testified that Kormondy confessed to shooting Mr. McAdams on two
separate occasions—once when they saw a reward poster about the
crimes and again when they returned home from drinking.
Additionally, Mrs. McAdams testified that Buffkin was in the
bedroom with her when Mr. McAdams was shot. She testified that
she recognized the voice of the man who was in the bedroom with her
as the man who first entered the McAdams’ home with the gun; that
man was Buffkin. Thus, if Buffkin was the only man in the bedroom
with her when Mr. McAdams was shot, the shooter had to be either
Hazen or Kormondy. However, there is no evidence pointing to
Hazen as the shooter. Therefore, even if Mrs. McAdams had been
impeached with this inconsistent statement about the number of men
in the bedroom when Mr. McAdams was shot, there is other evidence
to show that Kormondy was in fact the shooter.
Id. at 433. We affirmed the trial court’s denial of Kormondy’s initial motion for
postconviction relief. Id. at 443. We also denied Kormondy’s petition for a writ of
habeas corpus. Id.8 Thereafter, we denied Kormondy’s motion for rehearing.
8. In his habeas petition, Kormondy raised the following three claims:
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In July 2008, Kormondy filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida in which he
maintained that he was “actually innocent” of the circumstances warranting the
death penalty because he was not the shooter. Kormondy v. Tucker (Kormondy
IV), No. 3:08cv316–RH, 2011 WL 9933762, at *20 (N.D. Fla. Sept. 29, 2011).9 In
(1) appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to argue to this Court
that the trial court’s order failed to consider record mitigation in
violation of Farr v. State, 621 So. 2d 1368 (Fla. 1993); (2) appellate
counsel was ineffective for not presenting Mrs. McAdams’ prior
deposition testimony on direct appeal to this Court in order to
establish that the trial court erred by not allowing Kormondy to
confront Mrs. McAdams; and (3) appellate counsel was ineffective for
failing to argue that Kormondy’s waiver of mitigation was invalid
because the trial court did not ask trial counsel what investigation for
mitigation was done and what mitigation was available in violation of
Koon v. Dugger, 619 So. 2d 246 (Fla. 1993).
Id. at 441.
9. Kormondy argued the following claims in the federal district court:
(1) at the penalty-phase retrial, the court deprived Mr. Kormondy of
the Sixth Amendment right to confront witnesses when the court
sustained the objection to the question the defense attempted to ask
Mrs. McAdams about her prior deposition testimony; (2) the penalty-
phase-retrial attorney rendered ineffective assistance by failing to
investigate and present mitigation evidence; (3) the attorney in the
second direct appeal rendered ineffective assistance by not asserting
that the resentencing court should have considered the mitigation
evidence from the first penalty-phase trial; (4) the original attorney or
the penalty-phase-retrial attorney . . . rendered ineffective assistance
by failing to impeach Mr. Long and Mrs. McAdams; (5) the original
attorney had constitutionally impermissible conflicts of interest; (6)
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addressing this claim, the federal district court determined that Kormondy failed to
show by clear and convincing evidence that he was not the shooter:
The evidence that Mr. Kormondy was the shooter included—
and still includes—Mr. Long’s testimony that Mr. Kormondy
admitted it. The evidence included—and still includes—Mrs.
McAdams’ testimony that Mr. Buffkin was not the shooter. It is still
true that nobody says Mr. Hazen was the shooter. And other
evidence—though not introduced in Mr. Kormondy’s trial—also
supports the conclusion that Mr. Kormondy was the shooter. Mr.
Buffkin originally said Mr. Kormondy was the shooter. And for all
the controversy over who was with Mrs. McAdams when the shot was
fired, everyone who was at the house has consistently said that Mr.
Kormondy was not in the back room; he was in the kitchen with Mr.
McAdams. Mr. Buffkin now says that he, not Mr. Kormondy, was the
shooter, and Mr. Hazen says that before going into the back room, he
saw Mr. Buffkin holding a gun to Mr. McAdams’ head. But Mr.
Buffkin and Mr. Hazen originally gave different accounts. There are
good grounds to doubt that they are now telling the truth. These were
participants in a horrific crime who have demonstrated a willingness
to lie about what happened. They are serving life sentences and have
little to lose by trying to help a confederate get off death row. Clear
and convincing evidence this is not.
Id. at *20 (emphasis added). Finding that Kormondy was not entitled to relief on
his claims, the district court denied the petition, id. at *22, which the Eleventh
Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed, Kormondy V, 688 F.3d at 1285.
Mr. Kormondy is “actually innocent” of the death penalty; and (7)
Florida’s method for administering lethal injection is unconstitutional.
Id. at *8.
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Kormondy’s Current Motion
On December 4, 2014, after his death warrant was signed, Kormondy filed a
Successive Motion to Vacate Judgment and Sentence with Special Request for
Leave to Amend pursuant to rule 3.851, asserting (1) a claim of newly discovered
evidence; and (2) that he “is entitled to equitable relief and consideration of the
merits regarding his claim that he received ineffective assistance of counsel and/or
the State violated Brady v. Maryland[, 373 U.S. 83 (1963),] and Giglio v. United
States[, 405 U.S. 150 (1972)].” With regard to his first claim, Kormondy alleged
that in 1993, Buffkin told inmate Enoch Hall that he was attempting to escape and
that he had no problem shooting people to effectuate his escape as he had just
“blew McAdams mother f***ing brains out.” Kormondy further alleged that Hall
relayed Buffkin’s statement to Kormondy in August 2014. To support
Kormondy’s claim that Buffkin was the person who shot Mr. McAdams,
Kormondy attached to his motion affidavits from inmates Christopher Michelson,
Russell Binstead, Roger Livingston, and John Turner. On December 10, 2014, the
trial court denied an evidentiary hearing on Kormondy’s claims. On December 15,
2014, the trial court denied Kormondy’s successive motion for postconviction
relief.10 This appeal followed.
10. On December 7, 2014, Kormondy filed a motion to disqualify the trial
court, which it denied the following day. Because Kormondy does not claim in his
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ANALYSIS
Kormondy claims that the trial court erred in (1) summarily denying his
claim of newly discovered evidence; and (2) summarily denying his claim of
ineffective assistance of postconviction counsel. We address these claims in turn.
Claim of Newly Discovered Evidence
Kormondy contends that the trial court erred in summarily denying his claim
of newly discovered evidence, which consisted of five individuals stating that
Buffkin made certain incriminating statements to each of them in prison,
establishing that Buffkin—and not Kormondy—was the person who shot Mr.
McAdams. Kormondy asserts that this newly discovered evidence demonstrates
that his death sentence is constitutionally unreliable and would probably result in
Kormondy receiving a life sentence. According to Kormondy, this newly
discovered evidence establishes that he was not more culpable than his
codefendants and provides credibility to Buffkin’s prior evidentiary hearing
testimony that he was the shooter. Additionally, Kormondy contends that the trial
court’s basis for denying Kormondy’s initial motion for postconviction relief was
erroneous. We disagree.
initial brief that the trial court erred in denying his motion to disqualify, we do not
consider whether his motion was properly denied.
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According to Kormondy’s motion, Buffkin told inmate Hall in 1993, that he
had just “blew McAdams mother f***ing brains out.” The substance of the
affidavits are as follows. In his December 5, 2014, affidavit, Christopher
Michelson provided that he was in prison with Buffkin or “Buffy.” Between 1996
and 1998, Michelson maintained that:
Buffy told me that he was the one that shot and killed the victim. He
stated that he put the shooting on Kormondy because he knew if he
didn’t put it on one of his co-defendants he was going to get sentenced
to death. He chose to put it [on] Kormondy because he blamed
Kormondy for the threesome getting caught. Buffy stated that if
Kormondy kept his mouth shut none of them would have been
apprehended.
Russell Binstead stated in his December 5, 2014, affidavit, that in approximately
2011, Buffkin told him in prison that he was the person who killed the victim in his
case, that he should be on death row, and that he felt guilty that one of his
codefendants had a death sentence for a murder he committed. According to
Roger Livingston’s December 5, 2014, affidavit, after meeting Buffkin in prison in
roughly 2012, Buffkin told him “that his co-defendant who was on death row was
not the one that killed the victim. He told me that he was going to try to free the
man and that one day he would end up on death row himself.” In John Turner’s
December 9, 2014, affidavit, Turner stated that while in prison in 2012 Buffkin
told him that “he put his co-defendant on death row and felt bad about it. He told
me he was the ring leader and responsible for the murder. He stated that his co-
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defendant who was on death row was there wrongfully.” Thus, Buffkin’s
statements were reportedly made to inmates in prison around 2011 and 2012, with
the exception of Buffkin’s remarks to Christopher Michelson, which occurred
between 1996 and 1998, and Enoch Hall, which occurred in 1993.
The trial court found that Kormondy’s claim was procedurally barred
because Kormondy was re-litigating a prior claim raised in his initial motion for
postconviction relief. With regard to the information provided by Hall and
Michelson, the trial court found that in light of Buffkin’s 2005 evidentiary hearing
testimony, Kormondy was unable to show that the defense could not have known
of the evidence by the use of diligence as Buffkin confessed to both Hall and
Michelson before 2005. The trial court further found that the proposed newly
discovered evidence was inadmissible hearsay and cumulative to prior testimony
from Buffkin and Hazen. Moreover, the trial court concluded that “Buffkin’s
confession as told through the five inmates would not have produced an acquittal
or yielded a less severe sentence for [Kormondy].” Finally, the trial court found
that Buffkin “could not have been the person who shot and killed Mr. McAdams”
based on the totality of the evidence submitted at trial.
The standard of review of a summarily denied successive postconviction
motion is as follows:
A successive rule 3.851 motion may be denied without an
evidentiary hearing if the records of the case conclusively show that
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the movant is entitled to no relief. See Fla. R. Crim. P. 3.851(f)(5)(B).
This Court reviews the circuit court’s decision to summarily deny a
successive rule 3.851 motion de novo, accepting the movant’s factual
allegations as true to the extent they are not refuted by the record, and
affirming the ruling if the record conclusively shows that the movant
is entitled to no relief.
Walton v. State, 3 So. 3d 1000, 1005 (Fla. 2009). “A postconviction court’s
decision whether to grant an evidentiary hearing on a rule 3.850 motion is
ultimately based on written materials before the court. Thus, its ruling is
tantamount to a pure question of law, subject to de novo review.” Franqui v. State,
59 So. 3d 82, 95 (Fla. 2011) (footnote omitted).
This Court has set forth a two-prong test that a defendant must satisfy in
order to obtain relief in cases involving newly discovered evidence:
To obtain a new trial based on newly discovered evidence, a
defendant must meet two requirements. First, the evidence must not
have been known by the trial court, the party, or counsel at the time of
trial, and it must appear that the defendant or defense counsel could
not have known of it by the use of diligence. Second, the newly
discovered evidence must be of such nature that it would probably
produce an acquittal on retrial. See Jones v. State, 709 So. 2d 512,
521 (Fla. 1998) (Jones II). Newly discovered evidence satisfies the
second prong of the Jones II test if it “weakens the case against [the
defendant] so as to give rise to a reasonable doubt as to his
culpability.” Jones II, 709 So. 2d at 526 (quoting Jones v. State, 678
So. 2d 309, 315 (Fla. 1996)). If the defendant is seeking to vacate a
sentence, the second prong requires that the newly discovered
evidence would probably yield a less severe sentence. See Jones v.
State, 591 So. 2d 911, 915 (Fla. 1991) (Jones I).
Marek v. State, 14 So. 3d 985, 990 (Fla. 2009). The postconviction court must
consider the effect of the newly discovered evidence, in addition to all of the
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admissible evidence that could be introduced at a new trial. Swafford v. State, 125
So. 3d 760, 775-76 (Fla. 2013).
Relying on his assertion that Kormondy’s counsel first learned of Enoch
Hall in August 2014, Kormondy claims that the trial court erred in finding that he
was unable to show that the defense could not have known of the evidence by the
use of diligence. We disagree. The trial court properly determined that Kormondy
failed to show that the defense could not have known about Hall and Michelson—
as to the alleged confessions made by Buffkin to each of them in the 1990s—by
the use of diligence. In 2005, Buffkin testified during Kormondy’s evidentiary
hearing on his initial postconviction motion that “[t]here was [sic] a few other
inmates that knew that I was the triggerman.” Therefore, counsel could have
sought out Hall and Michelson after Buffkin’s evidentiary hearing testimony.
In addition, the newly discovered evidence offered by Kormondy, as to what
Buffkin reportedly said, constitutes hearsay. See § 90.801(1)(c), Fla. Stat. (2014);
see also Wyatt v. State, 71 So. 3d 86, 104 n.15 (Fla. 2011) (agreeing that an
inmate’s affidavit used for a claim of newly discovered evidence was inadmissible
hearsay). In other words, all of the inmates’ statements consist of relating that
Buffkin told them at various times that he was the shooter.
Even if Kormondy satisfies the first prong of Jones II as to all of the alleged
inculpatory statements Buffkin made, as presented by Kormondy, and even if such
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evidence is admissible in the guilt phase or in the penalty phase,11 we conclude that
the newly discovered evidence is not of such nature that it would probably produce
an acquittal on retrial or yield a less severe sentence. This Court previously
concluded that the trial evidence demonstrated that Kormondy was the shooter
separate from any testimony from Buffkin, consisting of both Kormondy’s
admissions to William Long and the observations of Cecilia McAdams, the
surviving victim.
In Kormondy’s original direct appeal, we observed that Kormondy admitted
to William Long that he had shot Mr. McAdams, explaining to him that the gun
had gone off accidentally. Kormondy I, 703 So. 2d at 457. In the appeal of
11. Section 921.141(1), Florida Statutes (2014), provides, in pertinent part,
that in a separate sentencing proceeding
evidence may be presented as to any matter that the court deems
relevant to the nature of the crime and the character of the defendant
and shall include matters relating to any of the aggravating or
mitigating circumstances enumerated in subsections (5) and (6). Any
such evidence which the court deems to have probative value may be
received, regardless of its admissibility under the exclusionary rules of
evidence, provided the defendant is accorded a fair opportunity to
rebut any hearsay statements.
§ 921.141(1), Fla. Stat. (2014) (emphasis added). Although the statute “relaxes the
evidentiary rules during the penalty phase of a capital trial, the statute clearly states
that the defendant must have an opportunity to fairly rebut the hearsay evidence in
order for it to be admissible. This rule applies to the State as well.” Blackwood v.
State, 777 So. 2d 399, 411-12 (Fla. 2000) (citation omitted).
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Kormondy’s resentencing, Kormondy claimed that his death sentence was
disproportionate to the life sentences Buffkin and Hazen received. Kormondy II,
845 So. 2d at 47. Kormondy argued that Buffkin was “the leader,” and a “prime
instigator,” Hazen, 700 So. 2d at 1214, and that Hazen was “the lead rapist,”
Kormondy II, 845 So. 2d at 47. We concluded that the record evidence refuted
Kormondy’s claim: “[t]he evidence from trial and the resentencing demonstrates
that Kormondy committed the homicide and is more culpable than his
codefendants; therefore, his sentence of death is not disproportional on this
basis.” Id. Further, we reasoned:
Although Kormondy, in a taped statement . . . contended that
Buffkin was the trigger man, the evidence in this case demonstrates
otherwise. Mrs. McAdams, decedent’s wife, who was sexually
assaulted during the robbery, testified that the second person who
raped her had shoulder-length hair. She also stated that while the first
person who entered the home, Buffkin, was assaulting her, the
shortest person (Hazen) and the long-haired one, Kormondy, were in
the kitchen with her husband Gary when he was shot.
Mrs. McAdams’ description of Kormondy was supported by the
testimony of several other witnesses as well as inconsistencies in
Kormondy’s taped statement. Allen Cotton also testified that
Kormondy had longer hair than the others on the day he was arrested
and that Hazen was shorter than Kormondy. Terri Kilgore, the officer
who pursued Kormondy on foot, also described Kormondy as having
long hair at the time of his arrest. This testimony tends to place
Kormondy, not Buffkin, in the kitchen with the victim and Hazen
when the fatal shot was fired.
Kormondy’s confession to Will Long also belies Kormondy’s
version of events. According to Long, he and Kormondy went to a
convenience store the day after the murders and Kormondy
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commented, upon seeing a reward poster related to the murders, that
the only way the police would find the killer would be if they were
walking behind him and Long at that moment. Later that day,
Kormondy admitted killing the victim and tearfully explained that it
was an accident. The testimony presented at trial tends to prove that
Kormondy was the triggerman, and therefore his sentence of death is
not disproportionate to the life sentences received by his
codefendants.
Id. at 48 (emphasis added).
The newly discovered evidence now offered by Kormondy in the form of the
affidavits is not of such nature that it would probably produce an acquittal on
retrial or yield a less severe sentence. As noted above, Buffkin alleged that he shot
Mr. McAdams during his testimony at Kormondy’s evidentiary hearing on his
claim of newly discovered evidence brought in his initial motion for postconviction
relief. This claim was rejected by the trial court, which we affirmed on appeal.
While it is true that in denying Kormondy’s initial motion for postconviction relief
the trial court found that “the sole reason Buffkin claimed that he shot Mr.
McAdams was to afford Buffkin an opportunity to come to court and to escape”
and that “Buffkin fabricated his most recent statement in an attempt to escape
again,” the trial court properly determined that Buffkin was not credible based on
Buffkin’s evidentiary hearing testimony along with its review of Buffkin’s prior
inconsistent statements. Kormondy III, 983 So. 2d at 440. On appeal, we
considered all of the circumstances of the case, including the fact that Buffkin had
previously told law enforcement officers and testified at deposition and Hazen’s
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trial that Kormondy was the shooter. Id. at 439. As the federal district court
observed in rejecting a similar claim regarding the credibility of Buffkin and
Hazen:
There are good grounds to doubt that they are now telling the
truth. These were participants in a horrific crime who have
demonstrated a willingness to lie about what happened. They are
serving life sentences and have little to lose by trying to help a
confederate get off death row.
Kormondy IV, 2011 WL 9933762, at *20.
The presentation of statements from a number of fellow inmates who
maintain that they also heard Buffkin confess to being the shooter does not change
this picture, does not change the corroborating evidence, and would not probably
produce a life sentence. The testimony from Long and Mrs. McAdams at
Kormondy’s trial—establishing that Kormondy shot and killed Mr. McAdams—
has remained unrefuted in postconviction proceedings. Thus, the record
conclusively shows that Kormondy is entitled to no relief. Accordingly, we affirm
the trial court’s summary denial of this claim.
Ineffective Assistance of Postconviction Counsel
Kormondy asserts that during the proceedings on his initial motion for
postconviction relief, postconviction counsel was deficient in arguing claims of
ineffective assistance of trial counsel, under Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S.
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668 (1984), as well as Brady and Giglio relating to trial witness William Long.12
For this claim, Kormondy relies on Martinez v. Ryan, 132 S. Ct. 1309 (2012), and
Trevino v. Thaler, 133 S. Ct. 1911 (2013), and this Court’s equitable powers. The
trial court denied this claim, concluding that neither Martinez nor Trevino is
applicable and that ineffective assistance of postconviction counsel claims are not
cognizable in a rule 3.851 motion.
In Banks, we recently denied Banks’ claim of ineffective assistance of
postconviction counsel. 39 Fla. L. Weekly at S662. We explained that ineffective
assistance of postconviction counsel claims are not cognizable. Id.; see also Moore
v. State, 132 So. 3d 718, 724 (Fla. 2013); Chavez v. State, 129 So. 3d 1067, 1067
(Fla. 2013) (table); Atwater v. State, 118 So. 3d 219 (Fla. 2013) (table); Mann v.
12. In addressing one of Kormondy’s guilt-phase claims raised on direct
appeal, we observed that “Long was subjected to extensive cross-examination by
the defense [and that] [t]he jury was given ample opportunity to assess Long’s
credibility.” Kormondy I, 703 So. 2d at 459. In Kormondy III, Kormondy claimed
that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to impeach William Long as to “his
prior felony conviction, the benefits he received from the State in exchange for his
testimony against Kormondy, and the inconsistency between Long’s deposition
statements and his trial testimony.” 983 So. 2d at 432. We concluded that
Kormondy failed to establish prejudice regarding trial counsel’s failure to
specifically question Long about his felony conviction. Id. Because Kormondy
did not argue in the trial court the other areas of impeachment which Kormondy
complained of on appeal, we determined that those subclaims were not properly
before us. Id. at 432 & n.4. We note that the federal district court found that
Kormondy “ha[d] shown no prejudice at all from the failure to impeach Mr. Long
on the additional grounds now proposed.” Kormondy IV, 2011 WL 9933762, at
*17.
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State, 112 So. 3d 1158, 1164 (Fla. 2013); Howell v. State, 109 So. 3d 763, 774
(Fla. 2013); Gore v. State, 91 So. 3d 769, 778 (Fla. 2012), cert. denied, 132 S. Ct.
1904 (2012). Furthermore, we reasoned that neither Martinez nor Trevino supports
an independent basis for relief in state court proceedings. Banks, 39 Fla. L.
Weekly at S662; see also Zakrzewski v. State, 147 So. 3d 531 (Fla. 2014) (table);
Howell, 109 So. 3d at 774; Chavez, 129 So. 3d at 1067; Gore, 91 So. 3d at 778.
We decline Kormondy’s invitation to reconsider our previous rulings on this issue.
Accordingly, Kormondy is not entitled to relief on this claim.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we affirm the trial court’s order denying Kormondy
postconviction relief. No rehearing will be entertained by this Court and the
mandate shall issue immediately.
It is so ordered.
LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, POLSTON,
and PERRY, JJ., concur.
An Appeal from the Circuit Court in and for Escambia County,
Linda Lee Nobles, Judge - Case No. 171993CF003302AXXXXX
Michael Paul Reiter, Ocala, Florida,
for Appellant
Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, and Carolyn Marie Snurkowski, Associate
Deputy Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida,
for Appellee
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