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. 

 

JONES, Randall (W/M)

DC#    111508

DOB: 05/07/68

 

­­­Seventh Judicial Circuit, Putnam County Case # 87-1695

Sentencing and Resentencing Judge: The Honorable Robert Perry

Attorney, Trial: Howard Pearl – APD

Attorney, Direct Appeal (1990): Larry Henderson – APD

Attorney, Direct Appeal (1992): Gilbert Schaffnit – Private

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Robert Strain & Carol Rodriguez – CCRC-M

 

Date of Offense:         07/27/87

Date of Sentence:       05/03/88         

Date of Resentence:    05/28/91

 

 

Circumstances of Offense:

 

During the evening of 07/26/87, Randall Jones and Chris Reesh went target shooting with a 30-30 caliber rifle near Rodman Dam in Putnam County.  Jones’ car became stuck in the sand pits, and after midnight, they tried to flag down a fisherman to pull them out.  The fisherman refused, but told them to ask for help from the driver of a Chevrolet pickup truck parked in the parking lot.  Inside the cab of that truck slept Matthew Brock and Kelly Perry. 

 

A 12-year-old camper heard three gunshots between 12:30 a.m. and 1:30 a.m.   A Rodman Dam concession worker found cigarette packs, broken glass, and blood in the parking lot that morning.  She followed a trail of blood across the parking lot to a wooded area and discovered Brock’s body.  A search of the area by police led to the discovery of the partially clothed body of Perry.  Both Brock and Perry died from gunshots to the head. 

 

Brock’s brother, Richard Brock, and sister-in-law saw Brock’s truck in the possession of Jones at a convenience store in Green Cove Springs, Florida at 7 a.m. on 07/27/87.  They noticed bullet holes in the windshield and a 30-30 caliber rifle inside.  When Richard Brock confronted Jones about the truck, Jones claimed that Matthew Brock sold him the truck for $4,000. 

 

On 08/16/87, Jones was arrested in Mississippi for possession of a stolen vehicle.  In interviews with Putnam County Sheriff’s Deputies, Jones implicated himself in the murders, but blamed Reesh for the shootings. 

 

Codefendant Information:

 

Pursuant to a plea bargain, Chris Reesh pled guilty to one count of Armed Robbery, one count of Armed Burglary, two counts of Accepting Money to Conceal a Crime, and one count of Shooting a Deadly Missile into Occupied Vehicle.  He was sentenced to two terms of 20 years, two terms of 5 years, and one term of 15 years of Community Supervision, respectively. 

 

 

Trial Summary:

 

08/28/87          Indicted as follows:

                                    Count I:           First-Degree Murder (Brock)

                                    Count II:         First-Degree Murder (Perry)

                                    Count III:        Armed Robbery

                                    Count IV:        Armed Burglary of a Conveyance

                                    Count V:         Shooting a Deadly Missile into Occupied Vehicle

                                    Count VI:        Second-Degree Grand Theft

Count VII:      Sexual Battery

03/15/88          State nolle prossed Count VI of the indictment

03/24/88          Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

03/28/88          Jury recommended death by a vote of 11-1

05/03/88          Sentenced as follows:

                                    Count I:           First-Degree Murder (Brock) – Death

                                    Count II:         First-Degree Murder (Perry) – Death

                                    Count III:        Armed Robbery – 9 years

                                    Count IV:        Armed Burglary of a Conveyance – 7 years

                                    Count V:         Shooting a Deadly Missile into Occupied Vehicle –

                                                            3.5 years  

Count VII:      Sexual Battery – 17 years

 

09/13/90          FSC vacated death sentences, reversed Sexual Battery conviction, and

                        remanded for resentencing

03/13/91          Jury recommended death by a vote of 10-2

05/28/91          Resentenced as follows:

                                    Count I:           First-Degree Murder (Brock)

                                    Count II:         First-Degree Murder (Perry)

 

                       

 


Appeal Summary:

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 72,461

569 So.2d 1234

 

05/19/88          Appeal filed

09/13/90          FSC affirmed Murder, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary, and Shooting a

                        Missile convictions, but reversed the Sexual Battery conviction and

                        vacated the death sentences

11/15/90          Rehearing denied

12/15/90          Mandate issued

 

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (after resentencing)

FSC# 78,160

612 So.2d 1370

 

06/24/91          Appeal filed

12/17/92          FSC affirmed sentences

02/17/93          Rehearing denied

03/18/93          Mandate issued

 

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

USSC# 92-8797

510 U.S. 836

 

05/17/93          Petition filed

10/04/93          USSC denied Petition

 

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 87-1695

 

10/28/94          Motion filed

10/03/95          Motion amended

11/17/97          Motion amended

06/08/00          Circuit Court denied Motion

 

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Motion Appeal

FSC# 00-1492

845 So.2d 55

 

07/13/00          Appeal filed

02/13/03          FSC affirmed denial of 3.850 Motion

05/02/03          Rehearing denied

06/02/03          Mandate issued

 

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

FSC# 01-2424

845 So.2d 55

 

11/02/01          Petition filed

02/13/03          FSC denied Petition

05/02/03          Rehearing denied

06/02/03          Mandate issued

 

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

USDC# 04-416

 

06/01/04          Petition filed

12/21/04          Petition amended

03/31/08          Petition denied

08/26/08          COA denied

 

U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Appeal

USCA# 08-11289P

 

08/17/09            Petition filed

 

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition of Sentence:

 

The vacating of Jones’ sentence in 1990 and subsequent resentencing in 1991 and the 3.850 Motion that was pending for nearly four years, from 10/28/94 – 06/08/00.

 

 

Case Information:

 

Jones filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 05/19/88, citing the following errors: failing to suppress statements made to the police; absence during voir dire; improper finding of guilt for sexual battery conviction; lacking of adequate predicate for DNA identification testimony; failing to affix Jones’ fingerprints to a judgment of guilt; failing to use a special verdict form and unanimity on aggravating circumstances; unconstitutionality of the death penalty statute; improper finding of aggravating circumstances; allowing family members to give victim-impact statements; failing to allow arguments that Jones could be sentenced to two consecutive minimum 25-year prison terms should the jury recommend life imprisonment; allowing the State to comment on the lack of remorse of Jones.  On 09/13/90, the First-Degree Murder, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary, and Shooting a Missile convictions were affirmed, but the Sexual Battery conviction and was reversed and the death sentences vacated.  The court found that the trial court erred by instructing the jury that the murder was heinous, atrocious, or cruel; by admitting victim-impact testimony; preventing the jury from considering the potential sentence of imprisonment; and by permitting the State to introduce evidence of a lack of remorse.  The court determined that the cumulative effect of these errors required a new sentencing phase. 

 

Jones was resentenced to death on 05/28/91. 

 


Jones filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 06/24/91, citing the following errors: failing to conduct an adequate inquiry into conflict of interest claims between Jones and his trial counsel; failing to suppress statements to police; failing to use a special verdict form and unanimity on aggravating circumstances; unconstitutionality of the death penalty statute; improper comments to a witness by the judge; improper references to the victims and codefendant during the State’s closing arguments; and finding the cold, calculated, and premeditated and pecuniary gain aggravators.  On 12/17/92, the sentences of death were affirmed.

 

Jones filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court on 05/17/93 that was denied on 10/04/93. 

 

Jones filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on 10/28/94, raising thirty claims.  Jones amended the motion on 10/03/95 and 11/17/97.  The 3.850 Motion was denied on 06/08/00. 

 

Jones filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida Supreme Court on 07/13/00, citing the following errors: engaging in ex parte contact with the State, failing to engage in the required independent weighing of aggravating and mitigating circumstances, and claiming ineffective assistance of counsel.  On 02/13/03, the denial of the 3.850 Motion was affirmed.

 

Jones filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the Florida Supreme Court on 11/02/01, citing claims of ineffective assistance of counsel, violating Jones’ 8th Amendment rights because he may be incompetent at the time of execution, and the unconstitutionality of the death penalty because it violates the rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court’s rulings in Apprendi and Ring.  On 02/13/03, the Petition was denied.

 

Jones filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with the U.S. District Court, Middle District, on 06/01/04 and amended it on 12/21/04.  The Petition was denied on 03/31/08. 

 

Jones filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Appeal with the United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, on 08/17/09. This petition is still pending.


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      

11/24/91               30                           POSS OF CONTRABAND                 FLORIDA STATE PRISON

06/22/93               0                              DEFACING STATE PROP.               FLORIDA STATE PRISON

06/21/94               0                              PART.IN RIOTS                                  UNION C. I.        

01/12/95               0                              POSS OF WEAPONS                          UNION C. I.        

06/23/97               30                           DISOBEYING ORDER                      UNION C. I.        

07/11/97               0                              DISOBEYING ORDER                      UNION C. I.        

08/07/97               0                              DISOBEYING ORDER                      UNION C. I.        

09/18/97               0                              DISOBEYING ORDER                      UNION C. I.         

10/20/97               0                              DISOBEYING ORDER                      UNION C. I.        

11/19/97               30                           DISOBEYING ORDER                      UNION C. I.        

12/11/97               30                           DISOBEYING ORDER                      UNION C.I.-MED.FAC.

08/04/99               180                         UNAUTH USE OF DRUGS               UNION C. I.        

08/20/03               30                           FIGHTING                                           FLORIDA STATE PRISON

09/05/03               30                           POSS OF CONTRABAND                 FLORIDA STATE PRISON

09/30/03               90                           SPOKEN THREATS                           FLORIDA STATE PRISON

01/16/04               30                           POSS OF CONTRABAND                 UNION C. I.        

________________________________________________________________________

 

Report Date:   07/21/04          JFL

Updated:         02/07/11         CAR