IN THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSISSIPPI
NO. 2005-DR-00632-SCT
QUINTEZ WREN HODGES
v.
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 09/13/2001
TRIAL JUDGE: HON. JOHN M. MONTGOMERY
COURT FROM WHICH APPEALED: LOWNDES COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
ATTORNEY FOR PETITIONER: ROBERT B. MCDUFF
ATTORNEY FOR RESPONDENT: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
BY: MELANIE K. DOTSON THOMAS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY: FORREST ALLGOOD
NATURE OF THE CASE: CIVIL - DEATH PENALTY - POST-
CONVICTION
DISPOSITION: PETITION FOR POST-CONVICTION
RELIEF DENIED -12/14/2006
MOTION FOR REHEARING FILED:
MANDATE ISSUED:
EN BANC.
SMITH, CHIEF JUSTICE, FOR THE COURT:
¶1. Quintez Wren Hodges was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death for the
murder of Isaac Johnson. Hodges v. State, 912 So.2d 730 (Miss. 2005).
¶2. This Court considered the following issues on direct appeal: (1) admission of evidence
of lenient sentencing recommendation for previous burglary charge; (2) prosecution’s
improper closing argument; (3) admission of evidence of prior criminal charges; (4)
ineffective assistance of counsel; (5) improper instruction on ineligibility for parole; (6)
defective indictment; (7) death penalty eligibility; (8) exclusion of prospective juror for
cause; (9) denial of mistrial for admission of previous burglary charge; (10) admission of
evidence of other crimes; (11) admission of photograph of victim; (12) refusal of lesser
offense instructions; (13) insufficient evidence on kidnaping charge; (14) submission of
avoiding lawful arrest aggravator; (15) conviction of kidnaping a violation against double
jeopardy; (16) failure to have transcription of instructions in record; (17) cumulative error.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 747-48. This Court affirmed the conviction and sentence on March
10, 2005.
¶3. Hodges’s petition for writ of certiorari was denied by the United States Supreme Court
on November 28, 2005. Hodges v. Mississippi, 126 S.Ct. 739, 163 L.Ed.2d 579 (2005).
¶4. Hodges subsequently filed his Petition for Post-Conviction Relief with this Court.
The State has filed its Response, and Hodges has filed his Reply Memorandum.
¶5. The Mississippi Uniform Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act contains several
procedural bars found in Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21 (2000). Most relevant for the purposes
of this case is the doctrine of res judicata in § 99-39-21(3). Hodges has raised in his Petition
for Post-Conviction Relief many of the issues he raised on direct appeal. Some of these
issues are supported by information submitted here for the first time. The State argues that
the issues are barred by res judicata. Hodges states that the procedural bars “generally do not
or should not apply here.” We will discuss the procedural bar further as it applies to each
issue.
¶6. Hodges raises the following issues in his Petition for Post-Conviction Relief:
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I. BECAUSE OF PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT THROUGH
IM PROPER CROSS EXAM INATION AND THE
INTRODUCTION OF FALSE EVIDENCE DEPRIVED
QUINTEZ HODGES OF A FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR TRIAL
AND MANDATES HIS DEATH SENTENCE BE VACATED
BECAUSE OF PREVIOUS VIOLATIONS OF HIS SIXTH,
EIGHTH, FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
II. IN A D D IT IO N AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE
PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT AND FALSE TESTIMONY
ELICITED BY THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE TRIAL
COURT ERRED IN ADMITTING HIGHLY PREJUDICIAL AND
INFLAMMATORY TESTIMONY AND IMPROPER EVIDENCE
CONCERNING HODGES’S PREVIOUS CRIMINAL CHARGES
AT SENTENCING, CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF
RULES 403 AND 404 OF THE MISSISSIPPI RULES OF
EVIDENCE, AND AS A RESULT, HODGES WAS DENIED A
FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR TRIAL AS GUARANTEED BY THE
UNITED STATES AND THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTIONS.
III. QUINTEZ HODGES WAS DENIED EFFECTIVE ASSISTANCE
OF COUNSEL AT ALL STAGES OF THIS CAPITAL MURDER
PROSECUTION.
IV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO ACCURATELY
INSTRUCT TH E JUR Y R EG ARDING H O DG ES’S
INELIGIBILITY FOR PAROLE, DENYING HODGES AN
ACCURATE AND RELIABLE SENTENCING
DETERMINATION IN VIOLATION OF THE MISSISSIPPI AND
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTIONS.
V. THE PROSECUTOR COMMITTED PLAIN REVERSIBLE
ERROR DURING SENTENCING ARGUMENT BY IMPROPER
AND UNFAIRLY PREJUDICIAL COMMENTS AND AS A
RESULT, HODGES WAS DENIED A FUNDAMENTALLY FAIR
TRIAL.
VI. THE CAPITAL MURDER INDICTMENT WAS FLAWED FOR
FAILURE TO PROPERLY CHARGE THE OFFENSE AND
DENIED HODGES AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROPERLY
PREPARE A DEFENSE.
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VII. THE DEATH SENTENCE IN THIS CASE MUST BE VACATED
BECAUSE THE INDICTMENT FAILED TO CHARGE A
DEATH PENALTY ELIGIBLE OFFENSE.
VIII. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED REVERSIBLE ERROR IN
REMOVING FOR CAUSE A JUROR QUALIFIED TO SERVE
UNDER CONSTITUTIONAL STANDARDS.
IX. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO GRANT A
DEFENSE REQUESTED MISTRIAL FOLLOWING THE
IMPROPER INTRODUCTION OF OTHER CRIMES, WRONGS
OR ACTS EVIDENCE IN VIOLATION OF RULES 403 AND 404
OF THE MISSISSIPPI RULES OF EVIDENCE, AND FURTHER,
ERRED IN FAILING TO ADMONISH THE JURY TO
DISREGARD SUCH EVIDENCE, OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE,
ERRED IN FAILING TO CHARGE THE TRIAL JURY SUA
SPONTE WITH A LIMITING INSTRUCTION CONCERNING
THE ADMISSION OF SUCH EVIDENCE.
X. THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED PLAIN ERROR BY
ALLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE OF
OTHER CRIMES OF HODGES IN VIOLATION OF RULES 403
AND 404, M.R.E. WITHOUT FIRST CONDUCTING A PROPER
PROBATIVE VALUE VERSUS PREJUDICIAL EFFECT
ANALYSIS AND WITHOUT ANY LIMITING/CAUTIONARY
INSTRUCTION.
XI. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING THE
INTRODUCTION OF A PHOTO OF THE DECEASED WHERE
IT WAS UNNECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A DISPUTED FACT
AND WAS HIGHLY PREJUDICIAL, DENYING HODGES A
FAIR TRIAL.
XII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DENYING DEFENSE
REQUESTED LESSER OFFENSE INSTRUCTIONS ON
MANSLAUGHTER AND TRESPASSING, AS THE SAME WAS
SUPPORTED BY THE EVIDENCE AND SUCH DENIAL
UNFAIRLY PROHIBITED HODGES FROM PRESENTING
EVERY DEFENSE THEORY OF THE CASE TO THE TRIAL
JURY, IN VIOLATION OF HIS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AS
GUARANTEED BY THE UNITED STATES AND MISSISSIPPI
CONSTITUTIONS.
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XIII. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING THE JURY TO
CONSIDER THE UNCONSTITUTIONALLY DUPLICATIVE
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE OF THE FELONY OF
BURGLARY, WHICH WAS ALSO USED TO ELEVATE THE
CRIME TO CAPITAL MURDER.
XIV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ALLOWING THE JURY TO
CONSIDER THE INVALID AGGRAVATOR OF AVOIDING
ARREST, WHICH THE JURY USED IN SUPPORT OF A
SENTENCE OF DEATH, DENYING HODGES A RELIABLE
SENTENCE AS GUARANTEED BY THE UNITED STATES
AND THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTIONS.
XV. THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN FAILING TO MAKE A
COMPLETE RECORD OF THE INSTRUCTIONS OF LAW
UPON WHICH JURORS WERE TO RELY IN DETERMINING
THEIR VERDICTS.
XVI. THE AGGREGATE ERROR IN THIS CASE REQUIRES
REVERSAL OF THE CONVICTION AND DEATH SENTENCE.
FACTS
¶7. On the night of July 20, 1999, Hodges broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend, Cora
Johnson, in Lowndes County, Mississippi, and kidnaped Cora Johnson and her infant
daughter. While at the home Hodges shot and killed Cora Johnson’s brother, Isaac. Hodges
then drove Cora and her daughter to Alabama. Cora testified that while in Alabama Hodges
forced her into the back seat of the car and raped her at gunpoint. Hodges then drove Cora
and her daughter back to her mother’s home and turned himself in to the police.
DISCUSSION
I. PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT.
¶8. At his sentencing hearing Quintez Hodges called his mother, Johnnie Hodges, as a
witness and also took the stand in his behalf. Johnnie Hodges was cross-examined by the
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State as to a guilty plea hearing held in 1998 on a burglary charge for Quintez, cause no. 98-
430-CR1, Lowndes County Circuit Court. The State asked Johnnie Hodges if Bessie Tatum,
mother of Isaac and Cora Johnson, had asked that Quintez be placed in the RID program.
Hodges said that all she remembered was the State asking for seven years in the penitentiary.
The State asked Johnnie about the presence of then Assistant District Attorney James
Kitchens, at the hearing, requesting a fifteen-year sentence for Quintez. Johnnie did not
remember anything, except a seven-year sentence. The State asked the same questions on
cross-examination of Quintez Hodges. He also denied or did not recall anything about Bessie
Tatum not wanting him to go the penitentiary or about James Kitchens’s presence at the
hearing.
¶9. The State then called James Kitchens as a rebuttal witness. Kitchens testified that he
handled Hodges’s plea hearing for the State in November 1998. Kitchens testified that he
met with Hodges’s attorney, William Bambach, and that Bambach had talked to Bessie
Tatum and she did not want Hodges to go to the penitentiary. Kitchens testified that he met
with Tatum and she told Kitchens that she did not want Quintez to go to the penitentiary.
Kitchens testified that Quintez Hodges put on a couple of witnesses to ask for a lighter
sentence, because the State was asking for fifteen-years. Kitchens testified that at the
conclusion of the hearing William Bambach stated that Bessie Tatum told him that she did
not want Quintez to go to the penitentiary because Quintez was the father of her grandchild.
Kitchens testified that he stated that he had spoken to Tatum and that was what she wanted.
Kitchens testified that the State retired two other criminal counts as a result of Quintez’s
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guilty plea. The State then, on closing argument at Hodges’s sentencing hearing, informed
the jury that
in November of 1998, whether he [Quintez Hodges] wants to acknowledge it
or not, he was given a huge measure of grace because rather than being sent
to the penitentiary for 15 years as the State of Mississippi was seeking, he
received intercession from the most unlikeliest of sources and through her
good will and through her efforts this defendant was sentenced instead to the
functional equivalent of probation. Three weeks after his release from
custody, after being given a second chance of monumental proportions, he kills
and kidnaps.
¶10. Quintez Hodges raised the issue of prosecutorial misconduct on direct appeal. Hodges
attempted to show that Kitchens’s testimony at the sentence hearing was false by comparing
it to a transcript of the 1998 plea hearing. This Court did not consider the November 1998
plea hearing transcript as it was not part of the appeal record. The Court stated:
Hodges argues that according to Branch v. State, 882 So. 2d 36, 49 (Miss.
2004), this Court is allowed to consider such extraneous evidence not in the
record. However, this Court in Branch clearly set forth that such appendices
which were not part of the trial record were to be considered only on the Atkins
and ineffective assistance of counsel issues. Here, during oral argument,
defense counsel conceded that he was not pursuing this issue as ineffective
assistance of counsel, but rather was doing so under the theory of prosecutorial
misconduct. Also, this Court has recently amended Rule 22 of the Mississippi
Rules of Appellate Procedure. Even though this amendment does not apply to
the case sub judice, this Court holds that the plea hearing, which is not in the
record, is barred from consideration and Branch does not allow this Court to
consider such extraneous evidence. To make it clear what this Court can
consider on direct appeal in future cases, Rule 22 has been amended to state
that "issues which may be raised in post-conviction proceedings may also be
raised on direct appeal” if such issues are based on facts fully apparent from
the record. M.R.A.P. 22 (emphasis added).
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 750. This Court then found that the issue was procedurally barred
because of lack of defense objection to the testimony in question but proceeded to consider
the issue on the merits. Id. at 750-51. This Court found that while it would have been
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improper for the State to ask these questions on cross-examination without evidentiary basis,
the rebuttal testimony of James Kitchens provided an evidentiary basis. Id. This Court
further stated that, in order to show a denial of due process, Hodges would have to show “(1)
the testimony was false; (2) the testimony was material to the verdict, and (3) the prosecutor
knew or believed the testimony to be false,” Id. at 751 (citing Westley v. Johnson, 83 F.3d
714, 726 (5th Cir. 1996)). The Court found that Hodges could not prove these elements. Id.
¶11. Hodges raises this issue again in his request for post conviction relief, with the
transcript of the plea hearing attached.
¶12. The State argues that this issue is barred by res judicata, stating that it was considered
on direct appeal by this Court on its merits. The State cites Crawford v. State, 867 So.2d
196, 202 (Miss. 2003), where this Court stated:
Post-conviction review is a limited proceeding whereby this Court will only
review "those objections, defenses, claims, questions, issues or errors which
in practical reality could not or should not have been raised at trial or on direct
appeal." Cabello v. State, 524 So. 2d 313, 323 (Miss. 1988) (quoting Miss.
Code Ann. § 99-39-3(2) (Supp. 2003)).
Claims and theories that could have been but were not presented to the trial
court or to this Court on direct appeal are procedurally barred from being
reviewed by this court on post-conviction review. Lockett v. State, 614 So. 2d
888, 893 (Miss. 1992). Likewise, all issues, both factual and legal, that were
decided at trial and/or on direct appeal are barred from review as res judicata.
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21(3) (Supp. 2003).
The burden of proving that no procedural bar exists falls squarely on the
petitioner. Lockett, 614 So. 2d at 893. For this Court to hear claims or
theories that were not presented at trial or on direct appeal, the petitioner must
show cause for not having already brought the claim and that this caused actual
prejudice to his case. Lockett v. State, 614 So. 2d at 893. To create an
exemption from the procedural bar under res judicata principles, petitioner
must show that his "claim is so novel that it has not previously been litigated"
or that "an appellate court has suddenly reversed itself on an issue previously
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thought settled." Id. (quoting Irving v. State, 498 So. 2d 305, 311 (Miss.
1986)). Petitioner will also defeat procedural bar if he can demonstrate that
"he has evidence, not reasonably discoverable at the time of trial, which is of
such nature that it would be practically conclusive that had such been
introduced at trial it would have caused a different result in the conviction or
sentence.” Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-23(6).
¶13. Hodges relies on Havard v. State, 928 So.2d 771 (Miss. 2006), where this Court cited
its decision in Hodges and discussed whether the Court would consider documents not in the
appeal record in support of issues raised by the defendant. This Court held that documents
which were not included in the appeal record would not be considered. Havard, 928 So.2d
at 785-86.
¶14. The law supports the State’s argument. On direct appeal, the Court considered and
decided the issue of prosecutorial misconduct on the merits. Therefore, res judicata bars
Hodges from raising this issue again.
II. ADMISSION OF EVIDENCE OF OTHER OFFENSES.
¶15. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in allowing the State to improperly cross-
examine him and his witnesses presented during the sentencing hearing. Each witness will
be discussed separately.
¶16. Lisa Hodges - Lisa Hodges is Quintez Hodges’s sister. During cross-examination by
the State she was asked about Quintez escaping from jail twice. Hodges argues that evidence
of escape attempts was not relevant to any of the statutory aggravating factors and was
improper rebuttal to Lisa Hodges’s testimony. Hodges argues that it could have improperly
influenced the jury as to sentencing because of the implication of future dangerousness. As
the State points out, this issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated:
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The prosecution has no right to introduce evidence of wrongs and bad acts to
prove Hodges’s character or to show he acted in conformity therewith, unless
it is competent rebuttal evidence in the face of the showing of Hodges’s good
character made on direct examination of this witness. Hansen v. State, 592 So.
2d 114, 148 (Miss. 1991) (citing Simpson v. State, 497 So. 2d 424, 428-29
(Miss. 1986); Winters v. State, 449 So. 2d 766, 771 (Miss. 1984)). M.R.E.
404(b) provides that:
Evidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to
prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in
conformity therewith. It may, however, be admissible for other
purposes such as proof of motive, opportunity, intent,
preparation, plan, knowledge, identity, or absence of mistake or
accident.
The State questioned Hodges’s sister about a prior bad act, the two attempts
to escape jail. On direct examination, Hodges’s sister testified that Hodges’s
character was good, that he respected his elders, did not disobey his parents,
and that he was not a violent person and never fought. Her direct examination
testimony opened the door to the State to ask these questions. There was
testimony on direct that he was a good boy that respected his elders. The
introduction of the two prior escapes from the jail was not error.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 755.
¶17. Chris Hodges - Chris Hodges is Quintez Hodges’s nephew. During cross-
examination by the State Chris was questioned about Quintez Hodges’s arrests for burglary
of a school in 1997 and burglary and attempted sexual battery in 1998. Quintez Hodges
argues that evidence of these arrests was not relevant to any statutory aggravating factor, nor
was it proper rebuttal to Chris Hodges’s testimony. As the State points out, this issue was
raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated:
As stated previously, the prosecution has no right to introduce evidence of
wrongs and bad acts to prove Hodges’s character or to show he acted in
conformity therewith, unless it is competent rebuttal evidence in the face of
the showing of Hodges’s good character made on direct examination of this
witness. Hansen, 592 So. 2d at 148. On direct examination, Chris testified that
Hodges’s character was good and that he was not disruptive and not the kind
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of person to commit this crime. He also testified that Hodges did not have
problems with the law prior to the charge of burglary of Cora's house and that
the problems with the law stemmed from his relationship with Cora. This
direct testimony opened the door to bring in the prior bad acts that occurred
prior to the burglary of Cora's house and the bad acts that had nothing to do
with Cora. The introduction of these other burglaries and the sexual battery
was not error.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 755.
¶18. Quintez Hodges - Quintez Hodges testified at the sentencing phase that he had been
charged with one other crime, the burglary of Cora Johnson’s house. On cross-examination
the State questioned Hodges about other charges, and introduced into evidence an indictment
in cause no. 98-432-CR1, charging Hodges with breaking into the dwelling house of Tasha
Martin and attempted sexual battery of Tasha Martin. Hodges did not object to the
introduction of the indictment at trial. Hodges now argues that this amounted to plain error,
as an indictment cannot be used for impeachment or rebuttal. As the State points out, this
issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated:
Although the introduction of the indictment was improper impeachment
evidence, such error was harmless. The jury, on many previous occasions
throughout the sentencing phase, heard testimony regarding these other crimes.
Hodges was not denied a substantial right by the introduction of this indictment.
The State argues that the introduction of this indictment was not improper
because it was used to rebut Hodges’s inferences and direct statements that his
prior criminal history was insignificant. Indeed, this Court has held that "the
State is allowed to rebut mitigating evidence through cross-examination,
introduction of rebuttal evidence or by argument." Wiley v. State, 750 So. 2d
1193, 1202 (Miss. 1999) (quoting Turner v. State, 732 So. 2d 937 at 950).
Notwithstanding the procedural bar, this issue is without merit.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 757-58.
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¶19. The State argues that all three parts of this issue were raised on direct appeal and
Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising the issue here again on the post-conviction
level. Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21 (3). This Court agrees that Hodges is barred by res
judicata from again raising this issue.
III. ASSISTANCE OF COUNSEL.
¶20. Hodges next argues that he was denied effective assistance of counsel. He does not
differentiate between his two trial lawyers but most of his argument is directed toward the
actions of Michael D. Miller. This Court has stated the following on ineffective assistance
of counsel and the standard provided in Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 104 S.Ct.
2052, 80 L.Ed.2d 674 (1984):
"The benchmark for judging any claim of ineffectiveness [of counsel] must be
whether counsel's conduct so undermined the proper functioning of the
adversarial process that the trial cannot be relied on as having produced a just
result." Strickland v. Washington, 466 U.S. 668, 686, 104 S.Ct. 2052, 80
L.Ed.2d 674 (1984). A defendant must demonstrate that his counsel's
performance was deficient and that the deficiency prejudiced the defense of
the case. Id. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052. "Unless a defendant makes both showings,
it cannot be said that the conviction or death sentence resulted from a
breakdown in the adversary process that renders the result unreliable." Stringer
v. State, 454 So.2d 468, 477 (Miss.1984) (citing Strickland v. Washington, 466
U.S. at 687, 104 S.Ct. 2052). The focus of the inquiry must be whether
counsel's assistance was reasonable considering all the circumstances. Id.
Judicial scrutiny of counsel's performance must be highly
deferential. (citation omitted) ... A fair assessment of attorney
performance requires that every effort be made to eliminate the
distorting effects of hindsight, to reconstruct the circumstances
of counsel's challenged conduct, and to evaluate the conduct
from counsel's perspective at the time. Because of the
difficulties inherent in making the evaluation, a court must
indulge a strong presumption that counsel's conduct falls within
the wide range of reasonable professional assistance; that is, the
defendant must overcome the presumption that, under the
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circumstances, the challenged action 'might be considered sound
trial strategy.'
Stringer, 454 So.2d at 477 (citing Strickland, 466 U.S. at 689, 104 S.Ct. 2052).
Defense counsel is presumed competent. Id.
Then, to determine the second prong of prejudice to the defense,
the standard is "a reasonable probability that, but for counsel's
unprofessional errors, the result of the proceeding would have
been different." Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d 426, 430 (Miss.1991).
This means a "probability sufficient to undermine the
confidence in the outcome." Id. The question here is:
whether there is a reasonable probability that,
absent the errors, the sentencer–including an
appellate court, to the extent it independently
reweighs the evidence--would have concluded
that the balance of the aggravating and mitigating
circumstances did not warrant death. Strickland,
466 U.S. at 695, 104 S.Ct. at 2068.
There is no constitutional right then to errorless counsel.
Cabello v. State, 524 So.2d 313, 315 (Miss.1988); Mohr v. State,
584 So.2d 426, 430 (Miss.1991) (right to effective counsel does
not entitle defendant to have an attorney who makes no mistakes
at trial; defendant just has right to have competent counsel). If
the post-conviction application fails on either of the Strickland
prongs, the proceedings end. Neal v. State, 525 So.2d 1279,
1281 (Miss.1987); Mohr v. State, 584 So.2d 426 (Miss.1991).
Davis v. State, 743 So.2d 326, 334 (Miss.1999) (citing Foster v. State, 687
So.2d 1124, 1130 (Miss.1996)).
Brown v. State, 798 So.2d 481, 493-94 (Miss. 2001).
¶21. Hodges presents at least twelve arguments under this issue, but like the rest of his
Petition, most of the issue repeats what was raised and rejected by this Court on direct
appeal. The State argues that Hodges’ss argument is barred by res judicata, citing Sanders
v. State, 846 So.2d 230, 239 (Miss. Ct. App. 2002), where the Court of Appeals stated:
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“Rephrasing direct appeal issues for post-conviction purposes will not defeat the procedural
bar of res judicata.” This quote referred to a search and seizure issue. We have treated
ineffective assistance of counsel differently. Once again Hodges cites Havard, where this
Court considered Havard’s ineffective assistance of counsel claims. The questions raised in
Havard were whether to consider the ineffective assistance claims on direct appeal or defer
consideration until the post-conviction stage, and whether to consider extraneous materials
not found in the appeal record. This Court considered the claims but not the extraneous
materials. This Court further found: “Having raised this issue with different counsel on
direct appeal, Havard has preserved his right to raise this issue, supported by affidavits, in
future post-conviction proceedings.” Havard, 928 So.2d at 786; see also McGee v. State,
929 So.2d 353, 365 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006) (same). Where Hodges raised ineffective
assistance of counsel on direct appeal, and raises it again here, supported by extraneous
materials that were not available on direct appeal, our consideration of the issue is not barred
by res judicata. Where Hodges raises ineffective assistance of counsel at the post-conviction
stage, and it is the same issue raised on direct appeal but only rephrased, res judicata will
apply.
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A. Failure to support motion to suppress confession
¶22. Hodges first argues that trial counsel was ineffective where he made a motion to
suppress Hodges’s confession, but did not properly support the motion with sufficient
evidence so that it would be granted. Keven Pitre, Lowndes County Sheriff Department,
took Hodges’s statement in which he confessed to shooting Isaac Johnson. Hodges claims
that Pitre testified at Hodges’s preliminary hearing that he told Hodges that he was facing a
possible death sentence or life imprisonment for shooting Johnson. Hodges argues that Pitre
then testified at the suppression hearing that Hodges didn’t ask any questions before signing
the statement and rights form. Hodges raised this allegation of inconsistent testimony on
direct appeal. This Court found that Pitre did not give inconsistent testimony, as the
preliminary hearing testimony dealt with Hodges’s answers once he was being questioned,
while the suppression hearing testimony dealt with Hodges’s conduct while being read his
rights, before the questioning began, and counsel was not deficient. Hodges, 912 So.2d at
760-61.
B. Failure to investigate and confront prosecution witnesses
¶23. Hodges argues that his trial counsel should have impeached prosecution witness
Anthony Betts with his guilty plea to a charge of burglary. Hodges argues that Betts’s
testimony that Hodges’s “was going to buy a gun and shoot somebody” was crucial evidence
as to Hodges’s intent to assault. This Court found that Betts’s testimony was mostly
cumulative, and without it there was ample testimony to support a conviction. Hodges, 912
So.2d at 762-63.
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¶24. In addition, Hodges now argues that his counsel was also ineffective for failure to
investigate and confront Cora Johnson at trial. Hodges argues that Cora Johnson wrote to
Hodges numerous times while he was incarcerated, and the letters would have shown that
she at one moment stated that she loved Hodges and another stated that she had moved on
to other men. Hodges further states that his niece, Lakasha Hodges, would have testified that
Cora Johnson called Hodges repeatedly on the night of the shooting. While this information
might have been helpful, and defense counsel should have been aware of it, its persuasive
effect is questionable. However unfair or manipulative Cora Johnson might have been in
their relationship, Hodges still broke into her house and killed her brother.
C. Failure to properly advise on plea bargain
¶25. Hodges argues that although the only two possible sentencing options in the event he
was convicted of capital murder were death and life imprisonment without parole, he was
incorrectly informed by his counsel and the trial court that a third option in the event of
conviction was life imprisonment with parole. Hodges stated trial counsel told him that the
State had offered a plea of life without parole, but he had rejected it because of the possibility
of life with parole. On direct appeal this Court found that Hodges did not prove that he
would have accepted the plea offer if he had been advised correctly, and counsel was not
ineffective. Hodges, 912 So.2d at 763.
D. Failure to present available evidence in mitigation
¶26. Hodges make a general argument here, and it appears that this issue serves as an
introduction to the specific arguments made in the next four issues. Hodges does argue that
an instruction offered by his trial counsel contained four mitigating circumstances and the
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trial court erred in refusing the instruction. Hodges states that the trial court only allowed
one mitigating circumstance to go to the jury, but also states that “[t]here was no evidence
nor argument offered at trial to support the first three factors.”
¶27. In his Reply/Supplement Hodges identifies numerous members of his family that have
attached affidavits and say now that they would have testified if they had been called as
witnesses. Their testimony would have included Quintez’s family history and his
relationship with his mother and his relationship with Cora Johnson. Hodges also states that
his cousin, Lakasha Hodges, could have disputed the testimony of prosecution witness
Anthony Betts as to events of the night of the shooting. Betts testified that Quintez Hodges
had stated the weekend before the shooting that he was going to buy a gun and kill
somebody. This was the real value of Betts’s testimony and Lakasha Hodges does not claim
to be able to dispute this. In addition, each time one of the proposed witnesses testified that
Quintez Hodges was a good, peaceful, misunderstood person, they would have opened the
door for cross-examination and renewed emphasis by the State on Hodges’s prior criminal
actions, as happened to Lisa and Chris Hodges, who testified during sentencing.
E. Failure to subpoena an expert witness from Whitfield
¶28. Hodges next argues that his trial counsel should have called a witness from Whitfield
as an expert in mitigation. Hodges states that trial counsel was having some communication
with psychiatrist Dr. Phillip Meredith during the trial. Hodges specifically argues that mental
health experts could have provided helpful testimony concerning his youth, his prior escape
from county jail, his history of drug abuse, his limited education and his difficult relationship
with Cora Johnson. When considered on direct appeal this Court found that this evidence
17
was presented to the jury through other witnesses except for evidence of drug abuse, which
this Court found was “not so compelling that there is a reasonable probability at least one
juror could reasonably have determined that death was not an appropriate sentence.”
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 766.
¶29. Hodges now supplies additional opinions from mental health experts. Dr. Karen S.
Wiviott, a psychiatrist, evaluated Hodges in June 2006 and found that
Hodges was an immature and impulsive 18-year-old who came from a
background of poverty and emotional deprivation. Disruption in both of his
parental relationships during his early years left him with rejection sensitivity
and vulnerability to abandonment. Only three weeks out of prison, he was
especially vulnerable to rejection by Cora Johnson, who was central to his
hopes for the future. Her inconsistency in the preceding months and weeks
and her betrayal on the night of July 20, 1999 had a profound effect on Mr.
Hodges that contributed significantly to his actions on that night.
¶30. Dr. Wiviott’s psychiatric evaluation is also interesting for what it does not include.
Unlike so many capital cases, there is no allegation of child abuse endured by Hodges;
Hodges’s father did not live with Quintez and his mother but did have a relationship with
Hodges when Hodges was growing up. Hodges’s mother reportedly was an alcoholic, but
she stopped drinking when Quintez was young and he did not remember these episodes.
Quintez used marijuana regularly, and alcohol less so in his teenage years, but nothing tied
this use to any of his problems with the law. There is no allegation of retardation or insanity.
Hodges’s witnesses agree that Hodges’s behavior worsened when his family moved from
Columbus to Caledonia when he was thirteen.
¶31. Dr. Marc Zimmerman, a psychologist, also performed a psychological evaluation of
Hodges in June 2006. Dr. Zimmerman found that Hodges was suffering from post-traumatic
18
stress disorder. We find that even if counsel had been able to produce these evaluations at
the time of trial, the evaluations are not that compelling, particularly in the context of a death
penalty case.
F. Failure to introduce the victim impact statement
¶32. Hodges next argues that his counsel was ineffective for failure to introduce the victim
impact statement of Bessie Tatum, the mother of Isaac and Cora Johnson. Hodges argues
that the statement shows that Bessie Tatum did not want him put to death and this might have
influenced the jury. On direct appeal this Court found that the statement was not that helpful,
and that the decision not to make the jury aware of the statement was acceptable trial
strategy. Hodges, 912 So.2d at 766-67.
G. Failure to adequately confront prosecution witness Johnny Robbins
¶33. Johnny Robbins, a probation officer from the MDOC, was called as a witness for the
sole purpose of introducing Hodges’s prior burglary conviction into evidence at sentencing.
Hodges argues that trial counsel should have objected to the introduction of the copy of the
conviction and should have brought out personal information about Hodges on cross-
examination. On direct appeal this Court found that the copy of the conviction was properly
admitted, so counsel was not ineffective for failure to object. This Court further found that
“there is no indication that Robbins knew Hodges personally and could have testified to”
information of a personal nature. This Court further found that, assuming trial counsel failed
to adequately cross-examine Robbins, there was no prejudice. Hodges, 912 So.2d at 767.
¶34. Hodges argues that defense counsel should have brought out, through Johnny Robbins
or some other corrections officer, that Hodges exhibited no behavioral problems during his
19
time in RID. While this might have been helpful, it also might have reminded the jury that
Hodges was given an opportunity to avoid the conduct which resulted in his death sentence
and wasted it.
H. Denial of overnight recess before closing argument
¶35. Hodges argues that trial counsel was rendered ineffective by the trial court’s failure
to allow a recess after the close of evidence at the sentencing phase. Hodges states that it
was error not to allow counsel a reasonable time to prepare and the jury some time to rest
before closing arguments and deliberations as to sentence. On direct appeal this Court found
no error in stating that “[t]here is no evidence in the record of an undue burden upon counsel
in continuing the case to conclusion and no indication in the record that the jury had
difficulty in proceeding with the case.” Hodges, 912 So.2d at 767-68.
I. Failure to properly prepare Hodges for his testimony
¶36. Hodges argues that counsel was ineffective for failure to prepare him as a witness for
his sentencing hearing once Hodges decided to testify. Hodges states that because of this
lack of preparation, he was “opened up on cross-examination to all prior charges because
defense counsel failed the explain the difference between a ‘charge’ and a conviction.” On
direct appeal this Court found that, even assuming defense counsel was deficient in not
making sure Hodges knew this difference, Hodges still had not shown prejudice. Hodges,
912 So.2d at 768-69.
J. Lead trial counsel was ineffective in this matter because of inadequate
experience, time, resources and personal circumstances
20
¶37. Hodges next discusses why Michael D. Miller was ineffective. Hodges states that
Miller was ineffective because of his inexperience, in that he had been admitted to the Bar
less than a year before Hodges’s trial and had not previously tried a case before a jury in
circuit court. Hodges states that Miller was suffering from bi-polar disorder. Hodges states
that Miller was using various prescription and non-prescription drugs around the time of
Hodges’s trial, including marijuana, methamphetamine and cocaine. After the trial Miller’s
parents sought to have him committed because of his suicidal thoughts and paranoid
delusions. In January 2003, Miller was found to be a “mentally ill person who poses a
substantial likelihood of physical harm to himself” and was committed by the Chancery
Court of Lowndes County to East Mississippi State Hospital.
¶38. Hodges cites Jermyn v. Horn, 266 F.3d 257 (3 rd Cir. 2001), where the United States
District Court granted Jermyn another sentencing hearing after finding that his counsel was
ineffective in failing to timely prepare and investigate possible claims involving his client’s
mental health. Hodges states that the comparisons with his case and Jermyn are “exact,”
except that in Jermyn’s case there was a wealth of information to find by investigation,
including mental health professionals who had found Jermyn to be schizophrenic and
evidence of a horrific childhood filled with physical and mental abuse committed by
Jermyn’s father. There are no such factors present in Hodges’s case.
¶39. The State argues that if Michael Miller provided ineffective assistance of counsel, as
this Court found on direct appeal, then a new or more compelling explanation for the same
behavior is irrelevant. The State argues that what is important in an ineffective assistance
claim is the behavior, not the explanation for the behavior. In Berry v. State, 765 F.2d 451,
21
454 (5 th Cir. 1985), the Fifth Circuit noted that whether Berry’s attorney had used drugs
during Berry’s trial was disputed, and added: “In any case, under Strickland the fact that an
attorney used drugs is not, in and of itself, relevant to an ineffective assistance claim. The
critical claim is whether, for whatever reason, counsel’s performance was deficient and
whether that deficiency prejudiced the defendant. We therefore concentrate on Berry’s
specific allegations of deficient performance and prejudice.” See also Guy v. Cockrell, No.
01-10425, 2002 U.S. App. LEXIS 28184, at *10 (5 th Cir. July 23, 2002) (counsel’s admitted
drug use during trial only relevant if inmate could show where counsel’s performance was
deficient because of drug use, citing Berry); Burnett v. Collins, 982 F.2d 922 (5 th Cir. 1993)
(same); Gonzales v. State, 915 So.2d 1108, 1111 (Miss. Ct. App. 2005) (failure to show
prejudice from attorney’s alleged drug use). This evidence of drug use and illness may
explain some of Michael Miller’s behavior before and during Hodges’s trial, but it does not
change this Court’s finding on direct appeal that Michael Miller provided ineffective
assistance of counsel.
K. Trial counsel was ineffective for failure to adequately argue for
investigative assistance and was likewise rendered ineffective by the
trial court’s denial of investigation assistance
¶40. Hodges argues that Michael Miller requested that the circuit court appoint an
investigator, but failed to present to the court ample reason with supporting evidence as to
why an investigator was needed. This Court cannot find such a motion in the appeal record,
though Miller did testify at a pretrial hearing that he might file such a motion. Hodges next
states that it would have been relatively easy for Miller to show the need for an investigator,
especially considering the short time he had before trial. While Miller might have needed
22
an investigator, what he needed more than anything was sufficient time to prepare for trial,
which was impossible given his voluntary entrance into this case on August 20, 2001, for a
case set for September 10, 2001. As a practical matter, finding an investigator within that
time frame and the investigator’s ability to accomplish any work of value are doubtful.
Finally, Hodges states that “[i]t should be noted that at all times pertinent to the trial, Hodges
was incarcerated and had been declared indigent. His fortune had not changed while he was
in jail awaiting trial.” Despite this allegation of financial status, someone hired Miller to
represent Hodges. The trial judge specifically noted this when Miller mentioned that he
might ask for an investigator: “He’s not indigent because he’s hired counsel.”
¶41. The Court finds that Hodges raised in his direct appeal the arguments found in parts
A, C, F, H and I, and he is barred from raising those issues again here by res judicata. The
remaining allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel made by Hodges are found to be
without merit, as is this issue as a whole.
IV. JURY INSTRUCTIONS ON PAROLE ELIGIBILITY.
¶42. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in allowing the jury to be instructed that
Hodges was eligible for a sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole. He
also argues that the problem was compounded when the State made the same allegation in
its closing argument to the jury. As the State points out, this issue was raised by Hodges on
direct appeal. This Court stated:
While it is true that the statute [Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101] does provide for
three alternatives, it is also true that the earned time allowance and parole
statutes effectively eliminate the possibility of parole for someone convicted
of capital murder. This is an inconsistency in statutes that needs to be
addressed by the Legislature. However, the question now becomes whether
23
this inconsistency caused prejudicial error in the case at bar. Where the jury
imposes the death penalty, the fact that the jury was given the option of parole
does not constitute harmful error. As this Court stated in Puckett v. State, 737
So. 2d 322, 363 (Miss. 1999),
the true harmful error would arise in those cases where the trial
court strictly follows the language of § 99-19-101 in capital
murder cases, submits all three options to the jury, and the jury
selects the option of life imprisonment. In this instance, the
defense could argue that the jury was misled in that they
selected the life imprisonment sentence with the assumption that
the defendant may be eligible for parole, when in reality the
defendant would not be eligible for parole by virtue of the parole
and earned time statutes.
The true harmful error situation did not occur in the case sub judice. The jury
was given all three alternatives but it sentenced Hodges to death and not life
imprisonment. Based on Williams and Puckett, this issue is without merit.
Furthermore, this Court finds that the language on the verdict form stating that
"if the jury cannot agree on punishment, the court must sentence the Defendant
to a term of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole" was improper
because it was an incorrect statement of law. Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. 99-
19-101, the judge must "impose a sentence [**89] of imprisonment for life"
when the jury cannot agree on the punishment and under our parole statutes a
life sentence rendered pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 99-19-101 will
automatically be a life without parole sentence. Even though this language in
the verdict form was an improper statement of the law, such error was
harmless since the jury, knowing that it had the life without parole option,
chose death.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 772. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue. See
Miss. Code Ann. § 99-39-21 (3).
V. IMPROPER COMMENTS BY PROSECUTION DURING
SENTENCING CLOSING ARGUMENT.
¶43. Hodges next argues that the State’s closing argument amounted to reversible error
because of the District Attorney’s references to the September 11 terrorist attacks, which
occurred during Hodges’s trial, and some Biblical references. The arguments were made to
24
the jury on September 12, 2001. The allegation of plain error is made because there was no
contemporaneous objection to the argument by defense counsel. As the State points out, this
issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated that “[c]onsidering the wide
latitude given to attorneys for closing arguments and considering the State’s comment in
reference to the defense’s own closing, Hodges’s arguments are without merit and there [is]
no unfair prejudice.” Hodges, 912 So.2d at 754. Hodges is barred by res judicata from
raising this issue.
VI. INDICTMENT FAILED TO PROPERLY CHARGE OFFENSE.
¶44. Hodges next argues that his indictment was defective for stating that Hodges’s
burglary of the Johnson house was committed with intent to commit assault within the house,
but failed to specify the intended victim of the assault. Hodges cites State v. Berryhill, 703
So.2d 250, 256 (Miss. 1997), where this Court stated: “[A] defendant . . . who has been
indicted without specifying the burglary may find out on the eve of trial that the State might
try to prove the burglary on different theories. Needless to say, different theories would
plainly invite different defenses.” Hodges alleges that the State’s proof at trial as to assault
was inconsistent, included numerous theories, and made preparation of a defense impossible.
As the State points out, this issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated
the following on this matter:
The indictment in the case sub judice complies with the rule set forth in
Berryhill. The indictment charged Hodges with capital murder with the
underlying felony of burglary. Since the underlying felony was burglary, the
State was required to specify the underlying offense, which they did. It
charged Hodges with burglary with the intent to commit an assault therein.
This Court has stated that
25
[t]he allegation of the ulterior felony intended need not,
however, be set out as fully and specifically as would be
required in an indictment for the actual commission of that
felony. It is ordinarily sufficient to state the intended offense
generally, as by alleging an intent to steal, or commit the crime
of larceny, rape or arson.
Booker v. State, 716 So. 2d 1064, 1068 (Miss. 1998) (citing Am. Jur. 2d
Burglary § 36 (1964)). Therefore, all the State was required to do was state the
intended offense generally by alleging the intent to assault. The State did
exactly what was required. Hodges was able to prepare a defense and was well
aware, from the indictment, that the State intended to prove burglary with the
intent to commit an assault therein. The State did not try to prove different
theories of burglary as Hodges claims. The State set out to prove that Hodges
went to Cora's house that night armed with a gun and intended to shoot Cora
and/or Bessie Tatum. Hodges himself told Cora on the night of the shooting
that he went to her house to shoot her and/or Bessie Tatum (if she had been
home). Hodges also told his friend, Anthony Betts, that he was going to buy
a gun and kill somebody. Hodges then went to Cora's house that night armed
with a gun. Hodges has not shown that he was prejudiced in the preparation of
his defense. This issue is without merit.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 774-75. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.
VII. INDICTMENT FAILED TO CHARGE A DEATH PENALTY
ELIGIBLE OFFENSE.
XIII. JURY ALLOW ED TO CONSIDER DUPLICATIVE
AGGRAVATING CIRCUMSTANCE.
¶45. These issues were considered together by this Court on direct appeal. Hodges first
argues that his indictment was improper because it failed to enumerate the aggravating
factors and the mens rea element. Hodges also argues that it was improper for the trial court
to allow the jury to find Hodges guilty of capital murder, with the underlying felony being
burglary, and then allow burglary to be submitted to the jury for consideration as an
aggravating factor in sentencing. As the State points out, these issues were raised by Hodges
26
on direct appeal. This Court considered the issues and found them to be without merit.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 775-77. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising these issues.
VIII. REMOVAL OF JUROR.
¶46. Hodges next argues that the trial court erroneously upheld a challenge for cause by
the State on venire person James Thomas, #69. Hodges argues that Thomas expressed
consistent views during individual voir dire by the State and trial judge that did not justify
removal from the venire. As the State points out, this issue was raised by Hodges on direct
appeal. This Court stated the following on this matter:
Likewise, in the case sub judice, the trial judge excluded the prospective juror
because of his contradictory responses to the questions regarding the death
penalty. This case is analogous to the King [v. State, 784 So.2d 884 (Miss.
2001)]case in that the juror stated in his questionnaire that he could never
impose the death penalty but during questioning by the court he stated that he
may be able to in the right case. He even went further and stated that he would
favor life over death but when questioned by defense counsel he recanted this
answer and stated that he could consider all possibilities. "It goes without
saying that a potential juror who cannot give a straight answer would be very
unlikely to follow the law." King, 784 So. 2d 884 at 888. "If jurors provide
inconsistent answers regarding their feelings on the stated law of this state,
they may be struck for cause." Brown v. State, 890 So. 2d 901, 910 (Miss.
2004). Given this potential juror's equivocal stance on the issue, the trial court
did not abuse its discretion in striking him for cause.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 778. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.
IX. INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE OF OTHER CRIMES.
¶47. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in failing to grant a mistrial when Cora
Johnson testified for the State that Hodges “broke in and me and my mother found him
underneath my bed, and he got locked up for a year and a half.” Hodges further argues that
the trial court erred in failing to admonish the jury to disregard the evidence and in failing
27
to sua sponte approve a limiting instruction concerning this evidence. As the State points
out, this issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated the following on this
matter:
In the case sub judice, the prosecutor did not ask Cora about Hodges’s jail time
from burglarizing her house, but instead asked her about her relationship with
Hodges, to which Cora mentioned his jail time he served when he broke into
her house. The prosecutor thereafter directed Cora's testimony towards matters
involving the relationship which resulted in a child, and the jail time was never
again mentioned. Clearly, the prosecution did not deliberately elicit testimony
regarding this other crime. As in Watson, even assuming arguendo that the
answer constituted error, the error was harmless.
Hodges also argues that it was error for the trial judge not to provide the jury
with a limiting instruction, since the evidence was introduced. To support his
argument, Hodges cites Robinson v. State, 735 So. 2d 208 (Miss. 1999), which
held that the trial court's failure to sua sponte give a limiting instruction on
prior bad acts was reversible error. However, Robinson was overruled by
Brown v. State, 890 So. 2d 901 (Miss. 2004). In overruling Robinson, this
Court held that the trial court is not required to issue a sua sponte limiting
instruction when other crimes evidence has been admitted and the defense
counsel has the burden of requesting such instruction. Id. "It is not per se
prejudicial to a defendant if a jury simply hears an isolated instance of a crime
or bad act in the course of a trial." Id. at 913. In the case sub judice, Hodges
did not request a limiting instruction when this isolated instance of a crime or
bad act came out during Cora's testimony. Since the trial court is not required
to issue such an instruction without a request from Hodges, the trial court did
not err when they did not give a limiting instruction.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 779. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.
X. INTRODUCTION OF EVIDENCE OF OTHER CRIMES.
¶48. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in allowing admission of evidence that
Hodges sexually assaulted Cora Johnson after he kidnaped her and took her to Alabama.
Hodges further argues that the trial court erred in failing to admonish the jury to disregard
the evidence and in failing to sua sponte approve a limiting instruction concerning this
28
evidence. As the State points out, this issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This
Court stated the following on this matter:
After the trial judge heard arguments from both sides the court determined that
"this was a continuous event and transaction, and the State under case law is
entitled to show the jury the complete picture of what happened. The Court
finds that it is probative and the probative value outweighs the unfair prejudice
and the objection is noted and overruled." In the case sub judice, Hodges was
charged with capital murder with the underlying felony of burglary and he was
also charged with the kidnaping of Cora Johnson. It was shown that Hodges
broke into the house where he was confronted by the victim. After shooting
Isaac once in the stomach, he went to Cora's room where she had just
awakened. Hodges told Cora to get her stuff and that she was going with him.
She told Hodges that she was not going anywhere with him and that is when
he struck her across the head with the gun. Cora then woke her daughter and
prepared to leave with Hodges. During the trip to Alabama, Cora testified that
Hodges forced her into the back seat of the car, held a gun to her head and
raped her while her daughter was lying in the front seat. The rape of Cora was
integrally related in time, place and fact with the murder of Isaac Johnson. The
rape arose out of a "common nucleus of operative facts" and was "integrally
intertwined" with what happened to Isaac Johnson. Wheeler v. State, 536 So.
2d 1347, 1352 (Miss. 1988). As stated above, this Court has held that proof of
another crime is admissible where the offense charged and that offered are so
interrelated as to constitute a single transaction or occurrence or a closely
related series of transactions or occurrences. Neal, 451 So. 2d at 759. The rape
in the case sub judice is part of a closely related series of occurrences. Also,
as this Court has stated in Neal, "we are concerned with the State's legitimate
interest in telling a rational and coherent story of what happened." Id. Not
only was the rape integrally intertwined with the murder of Isaac, the rape
actually occurred while Cora was being held against her will. The trial court
did not err in admitting evidence of the rape. The rape was admissible as part
of the res gestae of the events surrounding the crime. This issue is without merit.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 780-81. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.
XI. ADMISSION OF PHOTOGRAPH OF VICTIM.
¶49. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in admitting into evidence a color
photograph of Isaac Johnson’s gunshot wound during Dr. Steve Hayne’s testimony. As the
29
State points out, this issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated the
following on this matter:
State's exhibit 10 shows the midsection of the body cleaned and washed but
before the autopsy began. The picture does not depict him cut up, the picture
only shows the midsection of the body with a tiny bullet hole above the navel.
The Comment to M.R.E. 401 states that if there is any probative value, the rule
favors admission of the evidence. The photograph at issue accurately depicts
the wound inflicted upon the victim and the cause of death. It certainly does
not rise to the level of gruesomeness noted in McNeal [v. State, 551 So.2d 151
(Miss. 1989)]. There is absolutely no blood anywhere in the photo, and there
is nothing gory, gruesome or inflammatory about the picture. Dr. Hayne
testified that the picture was taken to indicate the entrance of the gunshot
wound and to show how such positioning affected his organs and blood loss,
causing death. Photographs have evidentiary purpose when they describe the
circumstances and cause of death. Accordingly, the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in admitting the photograph.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 782. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.
XII. LESSER OFFENSE INSTRUCTIONS.
¶50. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in refusing to submit to the jury
instructions on the lesser offenses of manslaughter and trespass. As the State points out, this
issue was raised by Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated the following on this matter:
In sum, the trial court did not commit reversible error by refusing the
manslaughter instructions. This Court has previously held that " if the killing
was committed during the commission of one of the enumerated felonies in
Miss.Code Ann. § 97-3-19(2)(e), one of which is burglary, capital murder is
proven and the defendant is not entitled to a manslaughter instruction. Id.
(citing Blue, 674 So. 2d at 1201). The evidence is clear. Isaac Johnson was
murdered during the commission of a burglary of Isaac and Cora Johnson's
home.
Furthermore, since there was no evidentiary basis in the record for the lesser
instruction of trespass, the trial court did not err in denying that instruction.
Also, "the accused is not entitled to the lesser offense instruction where the
evidence that proves the guilt of the lesser offense necessarily proves his guilt
30
of the principal charge." Doss, 709 So. 2d at 377. Therefore this issue is
without merit.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 783-84. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.
XIV. INVALID AGGRAVATOR AVOIDING ARREST.
¶51. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in instructing the jury that it could
consider as an aggravating factor that Hodges killed Isaac Johnson “for the purpose of
avoiding a lawful arrest.” Hodges specifically states that the State was incorrect in arguing
that Hodges took the telephone off the hook at the Johnson house to keep Johnson from
calling 911 after Hodges had shot him. As the State points out, this issue was raised by
Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated the following on this matter:
Hodges burglarized the home with the intent to commit an assault. Cora
testified that Hodges informed her that the reason he went to her house that
night was to kill her and her mother if she had been there. Before arriving at
Cora's house, Hodges went home and changed into black clothes, black gloves
and a beige ski mask. Hodges did not park in the driveway to the house but
parked two houses down. The jury could have easily concluded that Hodges
disguised himself in order to conceal his identity and when Isaac still
recognized him, Hodges shot him in order to avoid apprehension and eventual
arrest. Since efforts to avoid arrest after the murder may also be considered,
there is ample evidence of Hodges’s continued attempts to avoid arrest. After
shooting Isaac, Hodges took the phone off the hook. The jury could have
concluded that this was done in order to keep Isaac from calling 911 after he
was shot. Hodges also kidnaped Cora and her baby and fled the State. On the
way to Alabama, Hodges made Cora throw his ski mask out the window of the
car. This Court has held that efforts to dispose of and/or conceal the evidence
of the crime are sufficient to support the avoiding arrest instruction. Wiley v.
State, 750 So. 2d 1193, 1206 (Miss. 1999). To further conceal evidence of his
crime, Hodges and his sister hid the gun that was used to shoot Isaac.
This Court finds ample evidence in the record from which it may be
reasonably inferred that a substantial reason for the killing was to conceal the
identity of the killer or killers or to 'cover their tracks' so as to avoid
apprehension and eventual arrest by authorities. The "avoiding lawful arrest"
aggravating circumstance was properly submitted to the jury. This issue is
31
without merit.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 786. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.
XV. FAILURE TO INCLUDE JURY INSTRUCTIONS IN RECORD.
¶52. Hodges next argues that the trial court erred in failing to include the reading of the
instructions to the jury in the appeal record. As the State points out, this issue was raised by
Hodges on direct appeal. This Court stated the following on this matter:
Hodges does not claim any error from the proceedings which are missing from
the record. Even though there was no transcription of the instructions read to
the jury, copies of all the instructions which were read to the jury are included
in the court's papers. Furthermore, the parties and the court conducted
thorough and detailed, on the record hearings concerning the jury instructions.
The record also indicates that the jury instructions were read to the jury by the
Judge. Since the instructions were included in the court's papers Hodges was
not denied a fair review of trial on appeal. This was sufficient to analyze all of
the issues and properly review the case and since Hodges does not raise any
error from this portion of the proceedings, this issue lacks merit.
Hodges, 912 So.2d at 788. Hodges is barred by res judicata from raising this issue.
XVI. AGGREGATE ERROR.
¶53. There was no aggregate error in this case.
CONCLUSION
¶54. Quintez Hodges’s Petition for Post-Conviction Relief is denied.
¶55. PETITION FOR POST-CONVICTION RELIEF DENIED.
WALLER AND COBB, P.JJ., CARLSON AND RANDOLPH, JJ., CONCUR.
GRAVES, J., DISSENTS WITHOUT SEPARATE WRITTEN OPINION. DIAZ,
EASLEY AND DICKINSON, JJ., NOT PARTICIPATING.
32