The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly. This information, however, is subject to changeand may not reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not berelied 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 twoco-defendants (Kenneth Hartley and Sylvester Johnson) approached the victim,Gino Mayhew, who was selling crack outside of his Chevrolet Blazer. Thewitness saw Hartley place a gun to Mayhew’s head and force him into thedriver’s seat. Hartley sat in the back seat, behind Mayhew, and Ferrellclimbed into the front passenger seat. The Blazer left at a high rate ofspeed, with Johnson following in a truck.
On 04/23/91, police found Mayhew slumped in the driver’sseat with five gunshot wounds – one shot to the forehead, three shots to theback 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 convictedand sentenced to death for the First-Degree Murder charge, and Johnson wasconvicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
Ferrell had an extensive criminal record at the time of theoffense. The following is Ferrell’s prior prison history, coveringperiods of incarceration with the Florida Department of Corrections sinceJanuary 1983.
| Prior Prison History: |
| Offense Date | Offense | Sentence Date | County | Case No. | Prison Sentence Length | | |
| 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 | | |
Trial Summary:
07/25/91 Indicted as follows:
CountI First-Degree Murder
CountII Armed Robbery
CountIII 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 felonyoffender)
Count III Armed Kidnapping – Life imprisonment
(habitual felonyoffender)
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 tolife
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:
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 Courton 01/24/94, citing the following errors: improper comments by trialjudge 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 supportFirst Degree Murder conviction; insufficient evidence to support armed robberyconviction; sentencing Ferrell as a habitual felony offender; erroneousinstruction on the cold, calculated, and premeditated (CCP) aggravatingcircumstance; finding that the murder was CCP, for financial gain, and heinous,atrocious, or cruel; improper doubling of the aggravating factors of kidnappingand pecuniary gain; and denying a request for a special verdict. The FSCaffirmed the convictions and death sentence on 09/19/96.
On 02/11/97, Ferrell filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorariwith the U.S. Supreme Court that was denied on 04/14/97.
Ferrell filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on04/13/98 and amended on 09/01/04. On 12/05/05 and 04/17/06, EvidentiaryHearings were held. On 10/11/06, the CC granted and denied the motion inpart. A new penalty phase was granted as a result of the decision.
Ferrell filed a 3.850 Appeal with the Florida Supreme Courton 01/16/07. On 01/14/10, The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of the3.850 Motion.
On 08/02/07, Ferrell filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus with theFlorida Supreme Court that was denied on 01/14/10.
On 12/09/10, Ferrell was resentenced to life.
Institutional Adjustment:
THE FOLLOWING ENTRIESREFLECT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE INMATE FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULE CITEDAND 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 OFNARCOTICS 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 DISOBEYINGORDER UNION C.I.
________________________________________________________________________
Report Date: 11/28/01 JFL
Approved: 12/05/01 WS
Updated: 06/01/11 JJK