Ransom v. Johnson

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
For the Fifth Circuit

No. 97-20468

KENNETH RAY RANSOM,

Petitioner-Appellant,

VERSUS

GARY L. JOHNSON, etc.,

Respondent-Appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court
For the Southern District of Texas

October 21, 1997

Before KING, JOLLY, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges
DENNIS, Circuit Judge:

Appellant Kenneth Ray Ransom has been sentenced to death by

the State of Texas for the murder of Arnold Pequeno. His execution

has been scheduled for October 28, 1997. Ransom’s conviction and

sentence were upheld by the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals.

Ransom v. State, 789 S.W.2d 572 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). The United

States Supreme Court denied certiorari. Ransom v. State, 497 U.S.

1010 (1990). Following unsuccessful post conviction actions in

Texas state court, Ransom petitioned the federal district court for

a writ of habeas corpus. The district court denied habeas relief
and subsequently refused to grant a Certificate of Probable Cause

(“CPC”). Ransom v. Johnson, No. H-96-0344 (S.D. Tx. 1997). Ransom

filed motions for a stay of execution and for CPC in this court.

After considering the briefs, pertinent parts of the record, and

other materials, we deny the motions for stay of execution and

certificate of probable cause.

I. FACTS1

Appellant was with his girl friend, Wanda Phillips, at her

home for most of the day on June 30, 1983. After seven o’clock

p.m., James Randle, a friend of appellant, came to Phillip’s [sic]

home to talk with him. Appellant and Randle went outside -- away

from Wanda and her small daughter. The two talked for about

fifteen minutes. Randle left and appellant came back into the home.

Later, Randle returned to the home for a second time. The two went

outside again to talk for about fifteen minutes. Randle left, but

between nine thirty and nine forty-five p.m., he returned to the

home and for a third time he and appellant went outside to talk.

Both men went into the kitchen after this third discussion. While

there, they removed a butcher knife from the dish drainer. Randle

told appellant, “Oh man, here’s one that we can use.” As they

started to leave with the knife, Phillips asked appellant where he

1
We adopt verbatim the statement of the facts by the Texas
Court of Criminal Appeals in Ransom v. State of Texas, 789 S.W.2d
572 (Tex. Crim. App. 1989). State court findings of fact are
presumed correct as provided in 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Ransom does not,
in the motions before us, challenge the Texas Court of Criminal
Appeals’s findings of fact, and they do not “otherwise appear” to
fall under any of the circumstances enumerated in section 2254
(d)(1)-(8). Accordingly, these facts are presumed correct. 28
U.S.C. § 2254 (d)(1994).

2
was going and said that she needed her knife. Appellant responded

that they were going to pick up Randle’s cousin’s paycheck. Randle

told her, “Hold on you’re going to get your knife back. We’ll

bring the knife back.”

Between nine thirty and ten o’clock p.m. that night, Randle’s

mother saw Randle with Richard James Wilkerson, Randle’s cousin,

and “another boy” at her home. Randle’s younger brother, Jessie,

saw appellant leave with Randle and Wilkerson at some time before

midnight. Earlier that day, Randle’s mother had borrowed a butcher

knife from one of her neighbors but was later unable to find it.

At approximately ten o’clock that night, Wilkerson’s sister

saw appellant standing outside her home when she unlocked the

screendoor to let her brother inside. Wilkerson went into the

kitchen and rummaged through the drawer where the family kept the

butcher knives. Randle waited in the kitchen doorway. After

going through the drawer, Wilkerson went into the bedroom with

Randle. The two went outside five or ten minutes after they had

arrived at the home. When Wilkerson’s sister locked the door

behind them she saw appellant speaking with Wilkerson and Randle.

The three left together.

Anil Varughese, Rod Harris, Arnold Pequeno and his younger

brother, Joerene Pequeno, were employees of the Malibu Grand Prix

Race Center in Houston. The race center, which contained numerous

video games inside the center and had a racetrack for gocarts

outside, was open for business from ten o’clock a.m. until

midnight. Richard James Wilkerson had also been employed by the

3
race center but his employment was terminated on June 20, 1983.

Wilkerson could not pick up his last paycheck until June 30, 1983

-- the day that appellant told Phillips that he was going to pick

up Randle’s cousin’s paycheck. Before Wilkerson could get the

check he had to appear in person at the race center and sign his

time card indicating that he had received it. As of two-thirty

p.m., on June 30, 1983, Wilkerson had not picked up his check.

Late that night, at three o’clock a.m. on July 1, 1983,

appellant with Randle and Wilkerson returned to Phillips’ home.

Wilkerson was carrying a black satchel. Appellant went into the

bathroom and the other two men went into the bedroom. All three

men had blood on their clothing. Appellant, while in the bathroom,

tended to a severe cut on the inside of his right hand.

Inside the bedroom, Wilkerson poured the contents of the black

satchel--currency, a wallet, a calculator and a watch--onto the

bed. Some of the money was bloody. The three men counted it

together after which Randle gave appellant a share. Phillips

estimated appellant’s share to be around three hundred and twenty-

five dollars. Appellant counted the money, put it into his pocket

and began watching television with the two other men. Wilkerson

and Randle talked of how they had “slashed” somebody’s throat and

“put the knife in someone[’s] temple.” Phillips, while the men

watched television, began cleaning her kitchen. She discovered

that a billfold, some credit cards and a driver’s license had been

discarded in the garbage, the driver’s license had the name “Roddy

Harris” on it. Randle took the billfold, the credit cards and the

4
license away from Phillips and threw them into the dumpster.

When Phillips asked appellant from where the money had come,

he replied, “We just went and got some money.” Phillips and

appellant, that next day, used the money to purchase clothing for

themselves.

Early that morning, at around eight o’clock a.m., the bodies

of Anil Varughese, Rod Harris, Joerene Pequeno and Arnold Pequeno

were discovered at the race center by a friend of Varughese. Anil

Varughese’s body was discovered in the manager’s office. He had

been stabbed at least eight times -- five times in the chest and

three times in the abdomen. He was eighteen at the time of his

death.

The other three bodies were found in one of the race center’s

bathrooms. Rod Harris’ body was found in one of the stalls. He

had been stabbed at least seven times in the chest. Joerene

Pequeno’s body was found in the other stall. He had been stabbed

eleven times -- once in the chest, once in the neck, once in the

back, and once in the right hand; he had been stabbed seven times

in the neck area with one cut severing his jugular vein. Arnold

Pequeno’s body was in the bathroom corner with his head under one

of the urinals. He had been stabbed and cut twenty-two times in

the neck, chest, abdomen, back and right hand. One of the cuts to

his neck severed his jugular vein. Arnold’s watch and class ring

were missing along with a black satchel in which he carried his

school books. At the time of their deaths, Rod Harris was twenty-

two years old, Arnold Pequeno was nineteen and his younger brother,

5
Joerene, was eighteen.

The three victims’ blood covered the bathroom floor and was

splattered on the walls and ceiling. There was blood not matching

that of the victims on the sink’s counter, on a paper towel and on

the bathroom door. A trail of blood led out of the bathroom,

through the race center and into the parking lot area. Analysis

revealed that this blood could not have come from any of the

victims or from either Randle or Wilkerson. Only appellant’s blood

was genetically compatible to it.

The fingerprint to appellant’s left index finger was lifted

from the door to the bathroom stall where Harris’ body was found.

The print was discovered on the inside of the door at the top.

Randle’s fingerprint was lifted from the inside of the door to the

bathroom stall where Joerene Pequeno’s body was found.

Over thirteen hundred dollars was missing from the race

center’s safe and petty cash drawers. Wilkerson’s last paycheck

was also missing. His time card had been signed and was found

laying on the manager’s desk.

The knife that was taken from Phillips’ home was discovered in

an area near the racetrack. The knife was broken into pieces.

Late that evening on the day that the bodies were discovered,

appellant was with Phillips. The two were watching television. A

news story about the murders was broadcast. Upon seeing the story,

appellant was visibly upset. At around seven o’clock that evening,

appellant told Phillips that he was going to Wharton, Texas. The

last time Phillips saw appellant, he was wearing a high school

6
class ring and a watch both of which were identical to the ones

that Arnold Pequeno had been wearing before his murder. Phillips

had never seen appellant wear the ring or the watch before that

day. Also, the calculator that was in the satchel along with the

satchel itself were identified at trial as belonging to Arnold

Pequeno.

II. PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On June 15, 1984, Ransom was convicted of the capital murder

of Arnold Pequeno and sentenced to death. State of Texas v.

Kenneth Ray Ransom, No. 384,336 (176th Judicial District Court of

Harris County, Texas, June 15, 1984). Following unsuccessful

appeal and post conviction actions in Texas state courts, Ransom

petitioned the United States District Court for the Southern

District of Texas for a stay of execution and a writ of habeas

corpus on April 22, 1996. The district court granted the stay.

On March 6, 1997, the district court denied habeas relief in a

sixty-page order, applying the Antiterrorism and Effective Death

Penalty Act (“AEDPA”) standards. Ransom v. Johnson, No. H-96-0344

(S.D. Tx. 1997).

On June 13, 1997, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in

Lindh v. Murphy, --- U.S. ---, 117 S. Ct. 2059 (1997), holding that

the AEDPA does not apply to cases pending at the time of its

effective date of April 24, 1996. In response to the Lindh

decision, Ransom moved to alter or amend the district court’s

judgment. That motion was denied. Ransom filed a notice of appeal

and a request for CPC. The district court denied the CPC and

7
vacated its stay. Ransom’s execution date of October 28, 1997 was

then set by the state court. On August 21, 1997, Ransom filed in

this court a motion to stay the execution. Ransom filed a motion

for CPC on September 26, 1997.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

We apply pre-AEDPA standards to this habeas petition filed

prior to the effective date of the AEDPA for relief from a Texas

death sentence. See Green v. Johnson, 116 F.3d 1115, 1120 (5th

Cir. 1997)(applying pre-AEDPA standard to case filed before

effective date of act as Texas had not met opt-in requirements for

capital cases).

The merits of Ransom’s claim may be reviewed only if the court

grants a certificate of probable cause (“CPC”). An appellate court

is without jurisdiction to address the merits of an appeal from a

district court denial of habeas relief unless it grants a CPC.

James v. Cain, 50 F.3d 1327, 1330 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, -- U.S.

--, 116 S. Ct. 310 (1995).

To obtain a CPC, Ransom must “make a substantial showing that

he has been denied a federal right.” Barefoot v. Estelle, 463

U.S. 880, 893 (1983). Ransom must “demonstrate that the issues are

debatable among jurists of reason; that a court could resolve the

issues [in a different manner]; or that the questions are adequate

to deserve encouragement to proceed further.” Id. at 893 n.4;

James, 50 F.3d at 1330. The nature of the penalty in a capital

case is a relevant, but not determinative, factor in deciding

whether to grant a CPC. Rector v. Johnson, 120 F.3d 551, 558 (5th

8
Cir. 1997).

A stay will be granted only upon a showing that “there are

substantial grounds upon which relief might be granted.” James, 50

F.3d at 1330.

III. DISCUSSION

Ransom advances two constitutional arguments in this appeal.2

Ransom argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel

during the penalty-phase of his trial because counsel failed to

discover and present mitigating evidence. Ransom also argues that

his due process rights were violated when the trial court refused

to instruct the jury on a lesser included offense.

A. Ineffective Assistance of Counsel

Ransom contends that he received ineffective assistance of

counsel during the penalty phase of his trial, because counsel

failed to conduct a reasonable investigation into his background

and to present mitigating evidence.

Ransom is entitled to effective assistance of counsel at all

stages of his criminal trial, including the sentencing phase. A

claim of ineffective assistance of counsel has two components.

Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668 (1984). First, a defendant

must show deficient performance of counsel. A defendant must then

show prejudice resulting from the deficiency. Failure on either

prong defeats the claim. Tucker v. Johnson, 115 F.3d 276, 280 (5th

2
Ransom also argues that his petition must be remanded to the
district court because the district court erred in applying AEDPA
standards to his claims. As we conclude that Ransom’s claims fail
under pre-AEDPA standards, we deny this request.

9
Cir. 1997)(citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 697). A claim of

ineffective assistance of counsel is a mixed question of law and

fact which appellate courts review de novo. Green, 116 F.3d at

1122.

Under the first prong, counsel’s performance is compared to an

objective standard of reasonableness. Strickland, 466 U.S. at 688-

90. Judicial scrutiny of counsel’s performance is highly

deferential to counsel whose performance is strongly presumed to

“fall[] within the wide range of reasonable professional

assistance.” Id. at 689. Tactical and strategical decisions of

counsel “if based on informed and reasoned practical judgment” will

not be second-guessed. McCoy v. Lynaugh, 874 F.2d 954, 964 (5th

Cir. 1989)(quoting Mattheson v. King, 751 F.2d 1432, 1441 (5th Cir.

1985)[])).

Under the second prong, a defendant must show that prejudice

caused by the deficiency is such that there is a reasonable

probability that the result of the proceedings would have been

different. Id. at 694. The mere possibility of a different

outcome is not sufficient to prevail on the prejudice prong.

Cockrum v. Johnson, 119 F.3d 297, 302 (5th Cir. 1997). Rather, the

defendant must show that prejudice rendered sentencing

“fundamentally unfair or unreliable.” Lockhart v. Fretwell, 506

U.S. 364, 369 (1993).

Ransom argues counsel would have discovered his child welfare

case file had counsel mounted a thorough investigation. The case

file would have provided the defense with a wealth of information

10
including the following: during his childhood Ransom was regularly

subjected to physical, emotional, and possibly sexual abuse at the

hands of his mother and older siblings; he was shuttled between

his mother and a foster parent; Ransom had positive traits to

which his former foster mother could have testified.3 Instead,

3
The state trial court in post conviction proceedings found
that the case file contained the following:

. . . Kenneth Ransom, born on April 15, 1963, was
one of six boys who lived with their mother; that
initially all of the children were in foster care, and
all except a Kenneth Ransom returned home; that, on May
18, 1973, many V-shaped marks were found on the back,
both flanks, and the arm of a Kenneth Ransom, and a
Kenneth Ransom was placed in the James Dorsey foster
home; that a report dated May 21, 1973, notes that it
was a Kenneth Ransom [who] had been burned severely with
hot water, that a Kenneth Ransom had a thickened keloid
in the right pubic region and a dark pigmented burn area
on his foot, that both arms and thighs are covered with
old and new scars from extension cord licks, and that a
Kenneth Ransom had a scarred face; that, on June 7, 1973,
temporary custody of a Kenneth Ransom was granted to the
Harris County Child Welfare Unit due to alleged physical
abuse and neglect by his biological mother; that, on
February 14, 1975, a Kenneth Ransom was removed from the
Dorsey foster home and returned to his own home after his
mother received counseling and expressed interest in
having Kenneth Ransom returned to her home; that, on May
9, 1975, an elementary school principal and school nurse
reported that a Kenneth Ransom had come to school with
bruises and cuts on his back and arm, and a Kenneth
Ransom told the elementary school principal and school
nurse that his mother had whipped him; that, on May 12,
1975, a Kenneth Ransom was again placed in the James
Dorsey foster home; that, on June 17, 1975, temporary
managing conservatorship of a Kenneth Ransom was awarded
to the Harris County Child Welfare Unit; that, on July
16, 1975, Harris County Child Welfare was granted
permanent managing conservatorship and the parental
rights of a Pearlie Mae Ransom were terminated; that a
Kenneth Ransom had made As and Bs in school; that, in
October, 1975, a Kenneth Ransom began shoplifting; that,
in August of 1976, a Kenneth Ransom was arrested for
shoplifting; that in September of 1976, a Kenneth Ransom
was again arrested for shoplifting; that, on January 22,

11
counsel presented no evidence whatsoever at the punishment hearing.

Ransom further contends that counsel was on notice that the

case file existed because of his prior relationship with the

family. Ransom points to the affidavits of his trial counsel,

Wesley Hocker and Roy Jerue, which were offered by the state at

state post conviction proceedings. Wesley Hocker was appointed

lead counsel. Because he was the family attorney, Roy Jerue was

1978, a Kenneth Ransom ran away from the Dorsey foster
home; that, on February 14, 1979, a Kenneth Ransom
returned to the Dorsey foster home; that, a report dated
March 21, 1978, notes that school reports indicate that
a Kenneth Ransom “is very intelligent with great learning
potentials, but he wants to study whatever he pleases
instead of the class assignments;” that, on July 12, 179,
a Kenneth Ransom was placed in the Chimney Rock Center;
that, on August 24, 1979, a Kenneth Ransom was placed
with his maternal aunt, Earline Parlaine, in Wharton,
Texas; that in November, 1979, a Kenneth Ransom left his
maternal aunt’s house to live with his girlfriend; and,
that a Kenneth Ransom began having problems with the
police in 1980 and was involved in several burglaries and
thefts. The [county] records, include a report, dated
January 21, 1981, noting that Kenneth Ransom was a
“bright kid with the potential for success” and that it
was a “shame” that a Kenneth Ransom had ruined his life.

20. The Harris County Children’s Protective Services
recrds . . . contain a psychological evaluation of a
Kenneth Ransom, dated September 21, 1973, reflecting that
a Kenneth Ransom liked Mrs. Dorsey, his foster parent.
A psychological report, dated August 28, 1974, reflects
that psychological testing did not indicate that a
Kenneth Ransom was still suffering from any alleged abuse
that he received as a child, and that considering Kenneth
Ransom’s early development, Kenneth Ransom seems to have
adjusted “quite well.” The August 28, 1974 psychological
report further notes that Kenneth Ransom is in the
average range of intellectual functioning and
demonstrates no mental disorder. A psychological
screening summary, dated July 13, 1979, indicates that on
. . . a nonverbal test of intelligence, a Kenneth Ransom
performed within the dull normal to average range.
Ex parte Ransom, No. 29,820-01 at 1025-28.

12
appointed to assist Hocker. Hocker Aff. ¶ 3. Jerue was

responsible for investigations for the penalty phase. Jerue had

known the family since 1973 and had “either represented [Ransom’s

mother] or her children as guardian ad litem in a proceeding

wherein it was alleged that Pearlie had neglected her children.”

Jerue Aff. ¶ 2. Ransom argues that Jerue’s knowledge of the Ransom

family background was sufficient to put counsel on notice that

Kenneth was abused as a child.

The state offered the affidavits of both of Ransom’s trial

counsel in support of its argument that counsel was not deficient.

The affidavits show the following in support of the state’s claim.

Neither Ransom nor any other person told Jerue that Ransom had been

abused as a child. Id. ¶ 6. Jerue conducted the following

investigation for the penalty phase: (1) traveled to Wharton, Texas

to interview unnamed persons; (2) interviewed Ms. Ransom; (3)

interviewed one of Ransom’s brothers.

Standing alone, Jerue’s failure to conduct further

investigation for childhood abuse may have been professionally

deficient. Although failure to present mitigating evidence during

the penalty phase of a capital trial is not, per se, ineffective

assistance of counsel, see e.g., West v. Johnson, 92 F.3d 1385,

1408 (5th Cir. 1996)(collecting cases), cert. denied, -- U.S. --,

117 S. Ct. 1847 (1997), counsel has a duty to make a reasonable

investigation of defendant’s case or to make a reasonable decision

that a particular investigation is unnecessary, Strickland, 466

U.S. at 691. The reasonableness of investigation decisions depends

13
in part on information supplied by the defendant. McCoy, 874 F.2d

at 964.

The state argues that Jerue had no reason to suspect abuse

because Ransom never told Jerue that he was abused. In determining

the reasonableness of decisions not to investigate, information

provided by the defendant is only one factor,4 but in some cases it

may be the controlling fact, see, e.g., McCoy, 874 F.2d at 964.

When counsel is on notice of potential mitigating evidence, counsel

is no longer justified in relying exclusively on the defendant for

information. Cf. East v. Scott, 55 F.3d 996, 1006 (5th Cir.

1995)(counsel not ineffective for failing to investigate mental

history when “nothing . . . would have put his counsel on notice

that [defendant] was mentally ill.”); see also West, 92 F.3d at

1408-09 (counsel not ineffective for failing to investigate

physical/psychological problems when “given no reason to suspect

anything in that regard”); Andrews v. Collins, 21 F.3d 612, 623

(5th Cir. 1994)(“Because counsel had no reason to believe that

pursuing further investigation into Andrews’ . . . background would

be useful, ‘counsel’s failure to pursue those investigations may

not . . . be challenged as unreasonable’”)(quoting Burger v. Kemp,

4
In Strickland, the Supreme Court instructed as follows:

The reasonableness of counsel’s actions may be determined
or substantially influenced by the defendant’s own
statements or actions. Counsel’s actions are usually
based, quite properly, on informed strategic choices made
by the defendant and on information supplied by the
defendant. In particular, what investigation decisions
are reasonable depends critically on such information.

466 U.S. at 689.

14
483 U.S. 776, 795 (1987)), cert. denied, 513 U.S. 1114 (1995).

Here, Jerue had known the family both socially and professionally

for over two decades. More importantly, Jerue had represented

Ransom’s mother or the children in proceedings to terminate Ms.

Ransom’s parental rights. Jerue Aff. ¶ 2. By his own admission,

Jerue knew of “the problem of neglect within the Ransom family.”

Jerue Aff. ¶ 6. It was just such knowledge of the family that

prompted the court to appoint Jerue as second chair to “act[] as a

liaison with Ransom’s family. . . .” Hocker Aff. ¶ 2. Under these

circumstances, even with the benefit of highly deferential review,

Jerue’s failure to investigate, standing alone, may have fallen

“‘below an objective standard of reasonableness’ for professional

performance.” East, 55 F.3d at 1006 (quoting Theriot v. Whitley,

18 F.3d 311, 313 (5th Cir. 1994)).

The state argues that performance was, nonetheless, within the

realm of professional reasonableness because lead counsel Hocker

contends that he would not have presented evidence of abuse, even

if he had known of it, as the defense theory was innocence. Hocker

Aff. ¶ 5. Counsel’s decisions to present no evidence in the

penalty phase and to rely totally on the rather weak exculpatory

evidence rejected by the jury in the guilt phase is very

troublesome. Nevertheless, we need not decide whether counsel’s

performance was deficient, for we find that counsel’s ineffective

assistance did not undermine the outcome and, therefore, Ransom’s

claim falls under the prejudice prong of Strickland.

To prevail on the prejudice prong of Strickland, there must be

15
more than the mere possibility of a different outcome. Cockrum,

119 F.3d at 302. Ransom must show “evidence of sufficient quality

and force to raise a reasonable probability that, had it been

presented to the jury, a life sentence would have resulted.”

Andrews, 21 F.3d at 624. The prejudice resulting from counsel’s

errors must render sentencing “fundamentally unfair or unreliable.”

Lockhart, 506 U.S. at 369.

We conclude that Ransom has not met this burden. The alleged

mitigating evidence when weighed against the evidence heard at the

guilt phase of the trial outweighs any prejudice resulting from

errors of counsel. Tucker, 115 F.3d at 280. The district court

accurately catalogued the following evidence presented at trial:

. . . Dr. Joseph Jachimczyk testified that Arnold

Pequeno received twenty-two (22) cuts and stab wounds

to his body. (Statement of Facts -- Trial, at vol.

XXII, pp. 492-95). Pequeno suffered wounds to the

upper abdomen penetrating the liver, to the chest, to

the neck severing the jugular vein, to the back

puncturing the left lung, and to the left hand. The

wounds to Pequeno’s left hand were consistent with

defensive wounds as Pequeno attempted to ward off [the]

attack. Moreover, at the sentencing the jury heard

evidence that Ransom had committed burglary and

unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Michael Anthony

Lee also testified that on June 25, 1983, just days

before the murders, Ransom stabbed him multiple times

16
 on the sides of his face during an attempted robbery

and threatened, “Don’t make me kill you Mike.”

(Statement of Facts -- Punishment Trial, at vol. XXIV,

pp. 24-40).

Ransom v. Johnson, No. H-96-0344, at 49 n.30. Balancing this

evidence with the alleged mitigating evidence, we conclude that

Ransom has failed to carry his burden of proving sufficient

prejudice. See Hernandez v. Johnson, 108 F.3d 554, 563 (5th Cir.

1997)(holding that the gruesomeness of the crimes would have

outweighed alleged mitigating evidence); Cockrum, 119 F.3d at 304

(collecting cases rejecting ineffective assistance claims where

alleged failures to investigate mitigating evidence did not

prejudice defendant).

Moreover, the case file also contained evidence that, if

disclosed, would have been detrimental to Ransom’s case. See

Cockrum, 119 F.3d at 304 (failure to investigate mitigating

evidence did not prejudice the defendant because of the double-

edged nature of the evidence); West, 92 F.3d at 1410 (evidence

that defendant was drinking on the evening of the killing is “at

best a two-edged sword”). For example, the case file contains

evidence that Ransom had been arrested for shoplifting and was

involved in numerous burglaries and thefts. It also contained

several psychological evaluations of Ransom which concluded that he

was no longer affected by his childhood sufferings, he had adjusted

“quite well,” and he was of normal intelligence. See supra, note

3.

17
 For these reasons we cannot conclude that the case file

contained “evidence of sufficient quality and force to raise a

reasonable probability that, had it been presented to the jury, a

life sentence would have resulted.” See Andrews, 21 F.3d at 624.

B. Beck Claim: Due Process, Lesser Included Offense Claim

In Cordova v. Lynaugh, 838 F.2d 764, 767 (5th Cir.), cert.

denied, 486 U.S. 1061 (1988), this court held that the Eighth

Amendment as made applicable to the states by the Fourteenth

Amendment and the Due Process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

require that a jury in a capital case be allowed to consider

convicting the defendant of a lesser included, noncapital offense

if the jury could rationally acquit the defendant of the capital

crime and convict the defendant of the noncapital crime. In

Cordova, this court stated:

As explained in Hopper v. Evans, 456 U.S. 605, 610, 102

S. Ct. 2049, 2052, 72 L.Ed.2d 367 (1982), [Beck v.

Alabama, 447 U.S. 625 (1980)] stands for the proposition

that “the jury [in a capital case] must be permitted to

consider a verdict of guilt of noncapital offense ‘in

every case’ in which ‘the evidence would have supported

such a verdict.’” Although Beck, strictly speaking,

“holds only that a state cannot impose a blanket ban on

the giving of lesser-included-offense instructions in a

capital case,” Reddix v. Thigpen, 805 F.2d 506, 511 (5th

Cir. 1986), we have consistently held that Beck’s holding

applies when the state trial court refuses a lesser

18
 included offense instruction. See Reddix, 805 F.2d at

511-12 (applying Beck but finding no violation because

evidence did not support lesser included offense); Bell

v. Watkins, 692 F.2d 999, 1004-05 (5th Cir. 1982), cert.

denied, 464 U.S. 843, 103 S. Ct. 142, 78 L.Ed.2d 134

(1983)(same). [FN2]

[FN2]: A plain reading of Beck and Hopper

inexorably leads to the same conclusion. If

due process is violated because a jury cannot

consider a lesser included offense that the

“evidence would have supported,” Beck, 447

U.S. at 627, 100 S. Ct. at 2384, the source of

that refusal, whether by operation of state

law or refusal by the state trial court judge,

is immaterial.

Id. at 767.

The issue in the present case, as in Cordova, is whether a

rational jury, given all the facts, could have acquitted defendant

of capital murder and convicted him of a lesser included offense.

The defendant, Ransom, argues that a rational jury could have

acquitted him of capital murder and convicted him of either of two

lesser included offenses, noncapital murder or robbery.5 We

5
Ransom was indicted for, and convicted of, capital murder
in that he murdered Arnold Pequeno in the course of robbing him.
The applicable Texas statute provides, in pertinent part, that a
person commits capital murder if he commits murder in the course of
committing or attempting to commit robbery. TEX. PENAL CODE § 19.03.
Murder occurs when a person intentionally or knowingly causes the
death of an individual. TEX. PENAL CODE § 19.02.

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disagree.

Ransom points to his testimony and the testimony of his former

girlfriend Wanda Phillips as providing sufficient evidence to

warrant instruction on a lesser offense. The following relevant

facts were found by the state court in post conviction proceedings:

36. During the guilt-innocence phase of trial of

the instant case, [Ransom] testified that on the night of

June 30, 1983, co-defendant Randle came to Wanda

Phillips’ apartment three times, and [Ransom] left with

Randle after the third time; that the first time Randle

came to the apartment, [Ransom] and Randle discussed

going to pick up co-defendant Wilkerson’s check; that the

second time Randle came to Phillips’ apartment, Randle

requested the return of a pair of jeans; that the third

time Randle came to Phillips, [Ransom] and Randle went

into the apartment, and Randle picked up a knife; that

[Ransom] had no knowledge that Randle was taking the

knife from Phillip’s [sic] apartment; that the applicant

had no knowledge that anyone had a knife; and, that

[Ransom] did not know that they were going to do anything

but pick up co-defendant Wilkerson’s check (R. XXIV -

518-524, 530).

37. [Ransom] further testified, during the trial of

the instant case, that [Ransom] played arcade games at

the site of the instant offense, Malibu Grand Prix, for

about twenty minutes, and then [Ransom] went to the

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restroom; that [Ransom] saw Randle stabbing a man in the

restroom; that [Ransom] tried to prevent the stabbing;

that [Ransom] then left Malibu Grand Prix and hid in a

ditch; and, that the only reason that [Ransom] took the

proceeds from the robbery was because [Ransom] was scared

(R. XXIV - 529, 542, 550-51).

38. The Court finds, based on a review of

[Ransom]’s testimony during the trial of the instant

case, that [Ransom] denied committing any action or

having the requisite culpable mental state for the

instant offense.

39. During the guilt-innocence phase of the instant

trial, witness Wanda Phillips testified that she was with

[Ransom] on the evening of June 30, 1983; that co-

defendant Randle came to her apartment three times on

June 30, 1983; that [Ransom] went outdoors with Randle on

all three occasions; that Randle came into the apartment

with [Ransom] on the third occasion; that [Ransom] and

Randle went into the kitchen and while there someone

picked up a knife and Randle said “Oh, man, here’s one we

can use;” and, that [Ransom] and Randle then left, and

[Ransom] assured Phillips that she would get her knife

back (R. XXIII - 342-345, 347-349, 351).

40. Witness Wanda Phillips further testified,

during the trial of the instant case, that [Ransom] was

accompanied by co-defendant Randle, Randle’s younger

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 brother, and co-defendant Wilkerson when [Ransom]

returned to Phillips’ apartment, and that [Ransom] told

Phillips, when Phillips went into the bathroom where the

applicant was tending to his hand, that he was cut when

the other guy tried to grab the knife. Phillips later

contradicted her testimony and said that [Ransom] told

her that he was cut when he tried to keep Randle from

stabbing someone (R. XXIII - 359, 387, 406).

Ex parte Ransom, No. 29,820-01 at pp. 1032-34.

The argument that the jury rationally could have found that

Ransom intentionally or knowingly caused the death of Arnold

Pequeno but was not involved in the robbery is totally without

merit. The testimony of Ransom and Phillips that tended to

exculpate Ransom from any crime whatsoever provided a rational

basis for the jury to return a verdict of not guilty, and the jury

was instructed that a not guilty verdict was permissible. However,

the evidence would not have supported a rational finding that

Ransom killed Arnold Pequeno outside the scope of the robbery or

for any reason other than to further the robbery.

Nor do we believe that a rational juror, after considering all

of the evidence, could have convicted Ransom of the robbery while

exonerating him of all of the murders. All of the inculpatory

evidence consistently tends to prove that he was an active and

equal participant in planning, preparing for, committing, and

dividing the fruits of the robbery and the murders. The

exculpatory evidence, however, consisting of Ransom’s testimony and

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one version presented by Phillips’ testimony, indicates that Ransom

was implicated in neither offense but went to the crime scene

merely to play video games. A second version of Phillips’

testimony tends to show that Ransom brandished a knife in

confronting one of the victims immediately prior to the killings.

The evidence provides no basis for a reasonable inference that

Ransom participated in a robbery or attempted robbery but withdrew

or somehow disassociated himself from the murders.6

6
Ransom testified that he committed no crime whatsoever. He
said that he innocently went to the Malibu Grand Prix with
Wilkerson and Randle to play video games, accidently discovered
that Randle had fatally stabbed two arcade employees in the
restroom, received his hand wound in a futile attempt to disarm
Randle before he dispatched a third victim, fled to hide in a ditch
momentarily, but, in fear of his life, rejoined his companions
after their murders and robbery, accompanied them to Phillips’
house, and accepted a share of their ill-gotten loot.
One line of Phillips’ testimony was consistent with Ransom’s
story. In that version, she said that Ransom told her that he did
not join in the crimes and was cut when he tried to take a knife
away from Randle, and that Randle and Wilkerson said that Ransom
had not participated in any of the crimes. If the jury had adopted
this interpretation of the evidence, however, it reasonably could
not have convicted Ransom of either capital murder or robbery.
On the other hand, the record contains little, if any, evidence
that tends to prove the theory that Ransom participated in the
robbery but not the homicides. To reach such a conclusion, the
jury would have had to reject almost entirely Ransom’s testimony
and the part of Phillips’ testimony consistent with it. Even if
the jury had given great weight to Philips’ repeated statements
that Randle and Wilkerson claimed exclusive credit for all of the
crimes, State Trial Court Record vol. XXI at 408-09, 410, 435-36,
445, 448-49, 456, this evidence alone would not have justified
Ransom’s conviction of robbery, although it would have supported
his complete acquittal. The alternate line of Phillips’ testimony,
in which she said that Ransom stated that he was cut when Randle
took the knife away from him while he was struggling with one of
the victims, tends to prove Ransom’s guilt of both murder and
robbery and not one without the other.
There is no evidence in the record that reasonably supports an
inference that, if Ransom was not completely innocent, his conduct
and mental state was distinguishable from that of his companions,
so that he could have been found guilty of robbery, but not of

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 Accordingly, we conclude that in this particular case the jury

could have reached but one of two reasonable conclusions, viz.,

that Ransom was guilty of capital murder or of no crime at all.

Because the facts of the case would not have supported a middle

view the trial court did not commit constitutional error in

refusing to instruct the jury that it could entertain and return a

lesser included, noncapital offense verdict.

IV. CONCLUSION

For the foregoing reasons the application for certificate of

probable cause and the motion for stay of execution are DENIED

and the appeal is DISMISSED.

murder. Accordingly, the evidence of record does not afford any
basis for a rational inference or finding that Ransom joined the
criminal transaction with the intent only to rob and never formed
an intent to cause death to another. Consequently, we conclude
that no rational juror could have concluded that Ransom committed
robbery without also being implicated in the murders committed in
the course of the criminal episode.

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