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. 

 

FENNIE, Alfred Lewis (B/M)

AKA Ezell Foster

DC#    490989

DOB:   12/28/61

 

Fifth Judicial Circuit, Hernando County Case # 91-756

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Jack Springstead

Attorney, Trial: Alan Fanter & Hugh Lee – Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Michael S. Becker – Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  D. Todd Doss – Registry

 

Date of Offense:           09/08/91

Date of Sentence:         12/01/92

 

Circumstances of Offense:

 

On 09/08/91, Mary Shearin left her home, driving a 1986 Cadillac.  Later that day, two men found a body lying face down on the side of a road.  Police officers discovered that the hands were bound behind the back and the victim had been shot once in the back of the head.  Police later determined the body to be that of Mary Shearin. 

 

On 09/09/91, police found Shearin’s vehicle being driven by two men, who identified themselves as Ezell Foster and Ansell Rose.  After the car was impounded, police found the .25 caliber pistol that fired the bullet recovered from Shearin’s body and a piece of rope that matched the rope used to bind Shearin’s hands. 

 

Upon further police investigation, it was determined that Ezell Foster was an alias for  Alfred Fennie and Ansell Rose was an alias for Michael Frazier.  Additionally, police determined that money had been taken from Shearin’s account with her ATM card. 

 

Fennie and Frazier each implicated the other as the person responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Shearin.   

 

Codefendant Information:

 

Michael Frazier was also charged with First-Degree Murder, Armed Kidnapping, and Armed Robbery.  He was sentenced to life imprisonment due to an agreement with the State to provide information in exchange for the State agreeing not to seek the death penalty.

 

 Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

 

Prior to the murder, Fennie had a substantial criminal history.  The following is a summary of Fennie’s prison and community supervision history in Florida since 1983. 

 

 

Prior Prison History:

Offense Date

Offense

Sentence Date

County

Case No.

Prison Sentence Length

 

 

09/08/1986

UTTERING FORGERY

01/28/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8617583

3Y 6M 0D

 

 

09/12/1986

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

01/28/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8617583

3Y 6M 0D

 

 

10/28/1986

UTTERING FORGERY

12/29/1987

HILLSBOROUGH

8616282

3Y 6M 0D

 

 

02/26/1987

UTTERING FORGERY

01/20/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8705685

5Y 0M 0D

 

 

02/26/1987

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

01/20/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8705685

5Y 0M 0D

 

 

03/06/1987

UTTERING FORGERY

01/20/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8708985

5Y 0M 0D

 

 

03/06/1987

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

01/20/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8708985

5Y 0M 0D

 

 

03/31/1987

UTTERING FORGERY

01/20/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8707510

5Y 0M 0D

 

 

10/27/1987

UTTERING FORGERY

01/20/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8713959

5Y 0M 0D

 

 

10/27/1987

GRAND THEFT,$300 LESS &20,000

01/20/1988

HILLSBOROUGH

8713959

5Y 0M 0D

 

 

08/26/1988

ESCAPE

08/09/1989

HILLSBOROUGH

8812409

3Y 6M 0D

 

 

 

 

 

Prior Community Supervision History:

Offense Date

Offense

Sentence Date

County

Case No.

Community Supervision Length

 

 

03/21/1983

BURGUNOCCSTRUC/CV OR ATT.

08/24/1983

HILLSBOROUGH

 

3Y 0M 0D

 

 

08/24/1983

FRAUD-CHECK

08/24/1983

HILLSBOROUGH

 

3Y 0M 0D

 

 

 

 

Trial Summary:

 

09/27/91          Indicted as follows:

                                    Count I First-Degree Murder

                                    Count II           Armed Kidnapping

                                    Count III          Armed Robbery

11/12/92          Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

11/13/92          Jury recommended death by a vote of 12-0

12/01/92          Sentenced as follows:

                                    Count I First-Degree Murder – Death

                                    Count II           Armed Kidnapping – Life Imprisonment

                                    Count III          Armed Robbery – Life Imprisonment

 

Appeal Summary:

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 80,923

648 So.2d 95

 

12/16/92          Appeal filed

07/07/94          FSC affirmed convictions and sentences

08/25/94          Rehearing denied

09/28/94          Mandate issued

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 94-7030

513 U.S. 1159

 

11/25/94          Petition filed

02/21/95          USSC denied Petition

 

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 91-756

 

03/19/97          Motion filed

03/22/00          Motion amended

10/08/01          Circuit Court denied Motion

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Motion Appeal

FSC# 01-2480

855 So.2d 597

 

11/07/01          Appeal filed

07/11/03          FSC affirmed denial of 3.850 Motion

09/18/03          Rehearing denied

 

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

FSC# 02-1180

855 So.2d 597

 

05/28/02          Petition filed

07/11/03          FSC denied Petition

09/18/03          Rehearing denied

10/20/03          Mandate issued

 

U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari

USSC# 03-7975

541 U.S. 975

 

11/03/03          Petition filed

04/05/04          USSC denied Petition

 

U.S. District Court, Middle District – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 03-2068

(Pending)

 

11/28/03          Petition filed.

01/04/11            Petition denied.

01/04/11            COA denied. 

 

U.S. Court of Appeals – Habeas Petition Appeal

USCA# 11-10808

(Pending)

 

02/04/11          Appeal filed.

 

 

 

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:

 

Fennie filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District, which was pending for over seven years (11/28/03 – 01/04/11).

 

Case Information:

 

Fennie filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 12/16/92, citing the following errors: denying defense counsel’s requests for pre-trial and trial continuances; denying Fennie’s request to be present at Frazier’s deposition; denying requests for expanded instructions on aggravating factors; unconstitutionality of the heinous, atrocious, or cruel and cold, calculated, premeditated aggravating factors; denying penalty-phase mistrial motion; erroneously finding aggravating factors; and unconstitutionality of Florida’s death penalty scheme.  On 07/07/94, the FSC affirmed Fennie’s convictions and sentences.

 

Fennie filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 11/25/94, and the USSC denied the Petition on 02/21/95.

 

Fennie filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 03/19/97 and amended the Motion on 03/22/00.  On 10/08/01, the Circuit Court denied the Motion.

 

Fennie filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 11/07/01, citing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel and denial of two of Fennie’s 3.850 Motion claims without a hearing.  On 07/11/03, the FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion. 

 

Fennie filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 05/28/02, primarily citing claims of ineffective assistance of appellate counsel.  On 07/11/03, the FSC denied the Petition.

 

Fennie filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 11/03/03 that was denied on 04/05/04. 

 

Fennie filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District, on 11/28/03. That petition was denied on 01/04/11. Fennie’s Certificate of Appealability was also denied on 01/04/11.

 

Fennie filed a Habeas Appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals on 02/04/11. That appeal is pending,

________________________________________________________________________

 

Report Date:     07/17/03          JFL

Approved:        07/24/03          WS

Updated:          03/30/11          JJK