Bishop v. State , 95 Nev. 511 ( 1979 )

OPINION

By the Court,

Batjer, J.:

On the night of December 20, 1977, appellant robbed a cashier at a Las Vegas casino. During the commission of the crime, David Ballard, a patron of the casino, and Larry Thompson, an employee of the casino, were shot by the appellant when they attempted to prevent the robbery. Ballard died as a result of the wound. The shooting was witnessed by several persons, who identified appellant as the perpetrator.

Bishop was charged with nine felony counts, including the first degree murder of David Ballard. NRS 200.030(l)(b).¹ At an early stage in the proceedings Bishop made it known that he wanted to represent himself and plead guilty to all charges. The public defenders assigned to the appellant questioned his competency to make such a decision. Before the district court would accept a plea or rule on appellant’s request for pro per representation, the court ordered a psychiatric evaluation. The three psychiatrists who examined Bishop concluded that he was competent to enter the plea and possessed the ability to knowingly and intelligently waive the right to counsel.

After hearing the psychiatrists’ testimony, the court entered into a lengthy discussion with the appellant. Appellant was apprised that the maximum sentence for conviction of first degree murder was death; the court explained the various pitfalls and disadvantages of self-representation; and the district court judge expressed his personal opinion against pro per representation. Nevertheless, appellant insisted on dismissing the court-appointed public defenders.² On the basis of Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 (1975), the court granted appellant’s motion for self-representation. However, the court ordered the public defenders to remain in the court as “standby counsel’’ in the event the appellant desired their advice or assistance.

Appellant pled guilty to all counts. Pursuant to NRS 175.558, a three-judge panel was appointed by this Court to determine appellant’s sentence for first degree murder. Prior to the sentencing hearing, the state notified Bishop that it intended to seek the death penalty. At the hearing the state presented evidence tending to establish the presence of five aggravating circumstances. NRS 200.033.³ At the stage in the proceedings when it became appellant’s opportunity to present witnesses regarding mitigating circumstances, NRS 200.035,⁴ appellant replied that he had no witnesses to present. At that time the panel called for a brief recess and advised Bishop to confer with the “standby counsels” during the break. When the hearing was reconvened the “standby counsels” informed the panel that they believed there were certain mitigating circumstances present, but, because Bishop adamantly refused to allow the presentation of such evidence, the public defenders did not elaborate on that evidence. When questioned by the panel appellant admitted the truthfulness of the standby counsels’ remarks, but adhered to his position not to present any evidence. The panel then proceeded to hear closing arguments by the state.

The panel unanimously concluded that appellant’s crime was aggravated by five circumstances: (1) he was under a sentence of imprisonment in California (at the time of the murder appellant was on parole from an armed robbery conviction); (2) he had previously been convicted of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person of another; (3) he knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person by means of a weapon; (4) he committed the murder while engaged in the commission of a robbery; and (5) the murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest or effecting an escape from custody. Furthermore, the panel concluded that there were no mitigating circumstances because (1) the state had proven the non-existence of several of the circumstances, and (2) appellant had failed to present evidence establishing the existence of the remaining factors. Accordingly, he was sentenced to die by the administration of lethal gas.⁵ NRS 175.554(2).⁶

During oral argument before this Court, appellant, who was represented by his “standby counsels”, abandoned his claim concerning the legality of the guilty plea, and challenged only the legality of the sentencing hearing. Appellant claims the tribunal erred because (1) it should have heard evidence concerning mitigating circumstances; (2) some of the evidence used to prove aggravating circumstances had been unconstitutionally obtained; and (3) the death penalty constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. We disagree.

1. While a defendant must be given the opportunity to present evidence of whatever mitigating circumstances may be relevant to either the particular offender or the particular offense before a death penalty can be imposed, Lockett v. Ohio, 438 U.S. 586 (1978); Roberts v. Louisiana, 431 U.S. 633 (1977); Woodson v. North Carolina, 428 U.S 280 (1976); Smith v. State, 93 Nev. 82, 560 P.2d 158 (1977), a defendant must also be allowed to represent himself if he so elects. Faretta v. California, supra. Cf. Ingle v. State, 92 Nev. 104, 546 P.2d 598 (1976).

Even though the offense for which a defendant is being tried may carry a penalty of death, the defendant must be allowed pro per representation. People v. Teron, 588 P.2d 773 (Cal. 1979);⁷ Thomas v. Superior Court, 126 Cal.Rptr. 830 (Cal.App. 1976); Commonwealth v. Davis, 388 A.2d 324 (Pa. 1978). In Commonwealth v. Davis, supra, a case which was tried before a jury, the district court judge advised the pro per defendant, outside the presence of the jury, that he would be entitled to the “age of the offender” mitigating circumstance; nevertheless, the defendant decided not to present any argument to the jury. On appeal, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held, citing Faretta, that it would have been constitutional error for the judge to have refused Davis his right to represent himself.⁸ 388 A.2d at 328.

In the case at hand, Bishop had ample opportunity to present evidence of mitigating circumstances; however, he made it clear that he did not want to present or have standby counsel present such evidence. He had a Sixth Amendment right not to have counsel forced upon him. Faretta, supra. When a defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives his right to counsel, as here, his refusal to present a defense does not negate his pro per election. People v. Teron, supra. “Under Faretta, the state may not constitutionally prevent a defendant charged with a commission of a criminal offense from controlling his own fate by forcing on him counsel who may present a case which is not consistent with the actual wishes of the defendant.” Curry v. Superior Court, 141 Cal.Rptr. 884, 887 (Cal.App. 1977). For this reason, the sentencing tribunal did not err when it did not delve into the mitigating evidence referred to by the standby counsels.

2. NRS 175.552 provides in part that during the penalty hearing, “[n]o evidence which was secured in violation of the Constitution of the United States or the constitution of the State of Nevada may be introduced”. Appellant claims that such evidence was used to prove aggravating circumstances. However, since the appellant failed to object or otherwise protest the presentation of this evidence, and on its face it was not clear that the evidence was unconstitutionally obtained, we need not consider its admissibility on appeal. Cf. Guynes v. State, 92 Nev. 693, 558 P.2d 626 (1976); Hampton v. State, 85 Nev. 720, 462 P.2d 760 (1969).

3. Appellant argues that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment and is therefore unconstitutional. The Nevada statutes authorizing the imposition of the death penalty are similar to the Florida statutes which were found to be constitutional in Proffit v. Florida, 428 U.S. 242 (1976). The Nevada statutes provide for a consideration of any mitigating factor the defendant may want to present. NRS 200.035(7). Cf. Lockett v. Ohio, supra. The imposition of the death penalty in this case offends neither the United States Constitution nor the Nevada Constitution.

4. After a careful review of the record we conclude that appellant’s sentence was not imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice or any arbitrary factor. Furthermore, there is sufficient evidence to support the finding by the sentencing panel of five aggravating circumstances. Considering both the crime and the defendant, we conclude that the death penalty is not excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases in this state. E.g., State v. Sala, 63 Nev. 270, 169 P.2d 524 (1946).

Judgment affirmed. See NRS 176.505.⁹

Mowbray, C. J., and Thompson, J., concur.

1 NRS 200.030(l)(b) provides in pertinent part:

“1. Murder of the first degree is murder which is:

(b) Committed in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of . . . robbery. ...”

2 Appellant told the court that he did not want to contest the charge because his experience gained from past encounters with the criminal law told him that he had no chance to “beat” the charge and, furthermore, he did not want to drag his family through a lengthy and frivolous trial.

3 NRS 200.033 provides:

“The only circumstances by which murder of the first degree may be aggravated are:

“1. The murder was committed by a person under sentence of imprisonment.

“2. The murder was committed by a person who was previously convicted of another murder or of a felony involving the use or threat of violence to the person of another.

“3. The murder was committed by a person who knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person by means of a weapon, device or course of action which would normally be hazardous to the lives of more than one person.

“4. The murder was committed while the person was engaged, or was an accomplice, in the commission of or an attempt to commit or flight after committing or attempting to commit, any robbery, forcible rape, arson in the first degree, burglary or kidnaping in the first degree.

“5. The murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing a lawful arrest or effecting an escape from custody.

“6. The murder was committed by a person, for himself or another, for the purpose of receiving money or any other thing of monetary value.

“7. The murder was committed upon a peace officer or fireman who was killed while engaged in the performance of his official duty or because of an act performed in his official capacity, and the defendant knew or reasonably should have known that the victim was a peace officer or fireman. For purposes of this subsection “peace officer” means sheriffs of counties and their deputies, marshals and policemen of cities and towns, the chief and agents of the investigation and narcotics division of the department of law enforcement assistance, personnel of the Nevada highway patrol, and the director, deputy director, correctional officers and other employees of the department of prisons when carrying out the duties prescribed by the director of the department.

“8. The murder involved torture, depravity of mind or the mutilation of the victim.

“9. The murder was committed upon one or more persons at random and without apparent motive.”

The state argued that the first five subsections all apply to the appellant.

4 NRS 200.035 provides:

“Murder of the first degree may be mitigated by any of the following circumstances, even though the mitigating circumstance is not sufficient to constitute a defense or reduce the degree of the crime:

“1. The defendant has no significant history of prior criminal activity.

“2. The murder was committed while the defendant was under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance.

“3. The victim was a participant in the defendant’s criminal conduct or consented to the act.

“4. The defendant was an accomplice in a murder committed by another person and his participation in the murder was relatively minor.

“5. The defendant acted under duress or under the domination of another person.

“6. The youth of the defendant at the time of the crime.

“7. Any other mitigating circumstance.”

5 Subsequently, appellant was also sentenced to a total of 195 years in the Nevada State Prison on the remaining eight felony counts.

6 NRS 175.554(2) provides in pertinent part:

“The jury or the panel of judges may impose a sentence of death only if it finds at least one aggravating circumstance and further finds that there are no mitigating circumstances sufficient to outweigh the aggravating circumstance or circumstances found.”

7 The California Supreme Court has recognized, without resolving, the issue of a defendant’s right to self-representation in a death penalty hearing. People v. Teron, 588 P.2d 773, 779, n. 7 (Cal. 1979); Rockwell v. Superior Court, 556 P.2d 1101, 1114, n. 14 (Cal. 1976).

8 The jury sentenced Davis to death. However, on appeal the court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment because the statute under which Davis had been sentenced had been previously declared unconstitutional.

9 NRS 176.505 provides:

“When a remittitur showing the affirmation of a judgment of death has been filed with the clerk of the court from which the appeal therefrom has been taken, the court in which the conviction was had must inquire into the facts, and, if no legal reasons exist against the execution of the judgment, must make and enter an order that the director of the department of prisons shall execute the judgment at a specified time; but the presence of the defendant in the court at the time the order of execution is made and entered, or the warrant is issued, as in this section provided, is not required.”