The Commission on Capital Cases updates this information regularly. This information, however, is subject to change and may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied upon for statistical or legal purposes.
FERRELL, Ronnie (B/M)
DC# 092900
DOB: 03/19/64
Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County Case # 91-8142
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable R. Hudson Olliff
Attorney, Trial: Richard D. Nichols – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Teresa J. Sopp – Private
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Frank Tassone, Jr. – Registry
Date of Offense: 04/22/91
Date of Sentence: 12/17/93
Circumstances of Offense:
A witness testified that on 04/22/91, Ronnie Ferrell and two co-defendants (Kenneth Hartley and Sylvester Johnson) approached the victim, Gino Mayhew, who was selling crack outside of his Chevrolet Blazer. The witness saw Hartley place a gun to Mayhew’s head and force him into the driver’s seat. Hartley sat in the back seat, behind Mayhew, and Ferrell climbed into the front passenger seat. The Blazer left at a high rate of speed, with Johnson following in a truck.
On 04/23/91, police found Mayhew slumped in the driver’s seat with five gunshot wounds – one shot to the forehead, three shots to the back of his head, and one shot to the shoulder.
Codefendant Information:
Ronnie Ferrell and two codefendants, Hartley and Johnson, were each charged and tried separately for the First-Degree Murder, robbery, and kidnapping of seventeen-year-old Gino Mayhew. Hartley was convicted and sentenced to death for the First-Degree Murder charge, and Johnson was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
Ferrell had an extensive criminal record at the time of the offense. The following is Ferrell’s prior prison history, covering periods of incarceration with the Florida Department of Corrections since January 1983.
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Prior Prison History: |
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Offense Date |
Offense |
Sentence Date |
County |
Case No. |
Prison Sentence Length |
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|
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10/31/1983 |
ROBBERY W/FIREARM OR D/WEAPON |
02/15/1984 |
DUVAL |
8310569 |
4Y 0M 0D |
|
|
|
01/04/1988 |
RIOT-INCITING |
03/10/1988 |
DUVAL |
8800375 |
4Y 0M 0D |
|
|
|
01/04/1988 |
BATTERY LAW ENFORCEMENT |
03/10/1988 |
DUVAL |
8800375 |
4Y 0M 0D |
|
|
|
01/04/1988 |
RESISTING OFFICER W/VIOLEN. |
03/10/1988 |
DUVAL |
8800375 |
4Y 0M 0D |
|
|
|
03/30/1989 |
POSS.FIREARM BY FELON |
07/28/1989 |
DUVAL |
8905034 |
4Y 0M 0D |
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Trial Summary:
07/25/91 Indicted as follows:
Count I First-Degree Murder
Count II Armed Robbery
Count III Armed Kidnapping
03/12/92 Jury returned guilty verdict on all counts of the indictment
03/20/92 Jury recommended a death sentence by a vote of 7-5
12/17/93 Sentenced as follows:
Count I First-Degree Murder – Death
Count II Armed Robbery – 30 years
(habitual felony offender)
Count III Armed Kidnapping – Life imprisonment
(habitual felony offender)
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 83,076
686 So.2d 1324
01/24/94 Appeal filed
09/19/96 FSC affirmed conviction and sentence
12/10/96 Rehearing denied
01/09/97 Mandate issued
U.S. Supreme Court Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 96-7844
520 U.S. 1173
02/11/97 Petition filed
04/14/97 USSC denied Petition
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 91-8142
04/13/98 Motion filed
09/01/04 Motion amended
12/05/05 Evidentiary Hearing held
04/17/06 Evidentiary Hearing held
10/11/06 CC granted and denied motion in part; a new penalty phase was granted
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC# 07-92
01/16/07 Appeal filed
01/14/10 FSC affirmed denial of the 3.850 motion
03/17/10 Mandate issued
Florida Supreme Court – Writ of Habeas Corpus
FSC# 07-1447
08/02/07 Petition filed
01/14/10 Petition denied
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 91-8142
12/09/10 Resentenced to life
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:
The Direct Appeal was pending for three years (1/24/94 – 01/09/97) and Ferrell’s 3.850 Motion was pending from 04/13/98 – 10/11/06.
Case Information:
Ferrell filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 01/24/94, citing the following errors: improper comments by trial judge on the biblical origins of the commandment “thou shalt not kill;” admitting evidence that the victim was robbed two days before the murder; admitting statements by the victim before the murder; insufficient evidence to support First Degree Murder conviction; insufficient evidence to support armed robbery conviction; sentencing Ferrell as a habitual felony offender; erroneous instruction on the cold, calculated, and premeditated (CCP) aggravating circumstance; finding that the murder was CCP, for financial gain, and heinous, atrocious, or cruel; improper doubling of the aggravating factors of kidnapping and pecuniary gain; and denying a request for a special verdict. The FSC affirmed the convictions and death sentence on 09/19/96.
On 02/11/97, Ferrell filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court that was denied on 04/14/97.
Ferrell filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 04/13/98 and amended on 09/01/04. On 12/05/05 and 04/17/06, Evidentiary Hearings were held. On 10/11/06, the CC granted and denied the motion in part. A new penalty phase was granted as a result of the decision.
Ferrell filed a 3.850 Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 01/16/07. On 01/14/10, The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion.
On 08/02/07, Ferrell filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court that was denied on 01/14/10.
On 12/09/10, Ferrell was resentenced to life.
Institutional Adjustment:
THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES REFLECT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE INMATE FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULE CITED AND INDICATE THE GAIN TIME DAYS LOST.
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
07/19/94 0 DISOBEY REGULATIONS UNION C. I.
05/03/97 0 DISOBEY REGULATIONS UNION C. I.
11/22/98 30 POSS OF NARCOTICS UNION C. I.
04/15/00 60 DISORDERLY CONDUCT UNION C. I.
08/01/01 0 DISOBEYING ORDER UNION C. I.
12/12/03 0 DISOBEYING ORDER UNION C. I.
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Report Date: 11/28/01 JFL
Approved: 12/05/01 WS
Updated: 06/01/11 JJK