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.
LAWRENCE, Jonathan Huey (W/M)
DC# 898522
DOB: 04/12/75
First Judicial Circuit, Santa Rosa County Case# 98-270
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Paul A. Rasmussen
Attorney, Trial: Antoinette M. Stitt – AssistantPublic Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Chet Kaufman & David A.Davis – Assistant Public Defenders
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Michael P. Reiter –Registry
Date of Offense: 05/07/98
Date of Sentence: 08/15/00
Circumstances of Offense:
On 03/24/00, Jonathan Huey Lawrence was convicted andsentenced to death for the murder of Jennifer Robinson, conspiracy to committhe murder, providing alcoholic beverages to a minor and abuse of a humancorpse.
On 05/07/98, Lawrence and his friend, Jeremiah MartelRodgers, picked up 18-year-old Jennifer Robinson from her mother’s home. They drove to a secluded area in the woods where the three consumed alcoholicbeverages. Robinson had sex with Lawrence and then Rodgers while underthe influence of the alcoholic beverages provided by the two men. Afterhaving sex with both men, Robinson was shot in the back of the head by Rodgerswith a Lorcin .380 handgun. Robinson died minutes later.
Lawrence and Rodgers loaded the body into Lawrence’s truckand drove deeper into the woods. After finding a stopping place, Lawrencescored Robinson’s calf and removed her muscle. Rodgers photographedLawrence’s procedure with a Polaroid camera and each took turns posing withRobinson’s body. Afterwards, they buried Robinson at the site.
Robinson’s disappearance was traced to Lawrence andRodgers. The men were confronted by an investigator and they denied everknowing Robinson. Lawrence gave his consent for the investigator tosearch his trailer and truck. The investigator discovered the photographsof Robinson’s body taken during mutilation, disturbing notes written about themutilation, a Lorcin .380 handgun, and miscellaneous artifacts of the murderevent. Lawrence was instantly arrested by the investigator and confessedto his involvement; he then led investigators to Robinson’s body.
Lawrence was indicted on 06/04/98 and pled guilty on fourcounts: Count I, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder; Count II, givingalcoholic beverages to a minor; Count III, first-degree premeditated murder;and Count IV, abuse of a human corpse. Lawrence filed for a direct appealon 03/27/00.
Codefendant Information:
Jeremiah Martel Rodgers (DC# 123101)
Rodgers pled guilty for the same offenses as Lawrence. Their prosecutions were conducted separately in the First Circuit Court ofSanta Rosa County (CC# 98-274).
Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:
| Prior Prison History: (Note: Data reflected covers periods of incarceration with the Florida Dept. of Corrections since January of 1983) |
| Offense Date | Offense | Sentence Date | County | Case No. | Prison Sentence Length | | |
| 05/18/1993 | CRIMINAL MISCHIEF/ PROP.DAMAGE | 11/02/1993 | SANTA ROSA | 9300299 | 4Y 0M 0D | | |
Trial Summary:
06/04/98 Indicted as follows:
Count I: Conspiracyto Commit First-Degree Murder
Count II: Giving Alcoholic Beveragesto a Person Under Twenty-one
Count III: First-Degree PremeditatedMurder (Jennifer Robinson)
Count IV: Abuse of a Human Corpse
Count V: Possession of aFirearm of a Convicted Felon
03/24/00 Jury returned guilty verdicts on Counts I-IV; Count V was disposed nolleprosequi
03/30/00 Jury recommended death by a vote of 11-1
08/15/00 Sentenced as follows:
CountI: Conspiracy toCommit First-Degree Murder – 18Y, 5M, 15D
Count II: Giving Alcoholic Beverages to a Person Under Twenty-one – 2Y, 3M, 11D
Count III: First-Degree Murder (Jennifer Robinson) – Death
Count IV: Abuse ofHuman Corpse – 15Y
Appeal Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC# 00-1827
846 So. 2d 440 (2003)
03/27/00 Appeal filed
04/13/00 Presentence hearing
03/20/03 FSC affirmed sentence and conviction
05/14/03 Rehearing denied and mandate issued
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofCertiorari
USSC# 03-5708
540 U.S. 952, 124 S.Ct. 394, 157 L.Ed.2d 286
07/15/03 Petition filed
10/14/03 Petition denied
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC# 98-270
07/09/04 Motion filed
02/11/05 Amended
01/26/06 Motion denied
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC# 06-352
969 So.2d 294 (Fla. 2007)
02/22/06 Appeal filed
11/01/07 Denial affirmed.
11/26/07 Mandate issued.
Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Habeas Corpus
FSC# 06-1152
969 So.2d 294 (Fla. 2007)
06/14/06 Petition filed
11/01/07 Petition denied.
11/26/07 Mandate issued.
United States District Court, Northern District –Petition for Habeas Corpus
USDC# 08-69
02/20/08 Petition filed.
07/21/10 Petition denied.
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:
It took the Florida Supreme Court three years to render adecision on Lawrence’s Direct Appeal.
Case Information:
On 3/27/00, Lawrence filed a Direct Appeal to the FloridaSupreme Court. There were numerous issues raised. First, Lawrenceclaimed the trial court failed to appoint medical experts and order anevidentiary competency hearing regarding his current mental and psychologicaldisturbances, which were of a serious nature. Second, Lawrence contendedthat the trial court erred again by excluding Rodgers’ criminal history, asLawrence claimed that he acted under extreme duress through his involvementwith Rodgers. Third, Lawrence argued that the trial court erroneouslydiscovered the cold, calculated, and premeditated aggravator (CCP), indicatingthat Lawrence had a prearranged plan to kill Robinson. Fourth, Lawrenceclaimed that the trial court committed reversible error by includingnon-recorded facts on the CCP findings and by ambiguously assigning weight tothe mitigator. Fifth, Lawrence raised the constitutionality of the deathsentence, indicating that it violated Florida, federal, and internationallaw. Sixth, Lawrence claimed the trial court erred in denying his motionfor a mistrial, as a result of the trial court committing reversible error byoverruling Lawrence’s objections to the investigator’s opinion on Lawrence’salter ego. Finally, Lawrence claimed that his sentence wasdisproportionate to the circumstances of the crime in that there were moremitigating than aggravated circumstances. Because the sentencing order ofthis case found extensive aggravating circumstances and substantial mitigatingcircumstances, the Court believed the trial judge properly weighed thesecircumstances in delivering his death sentence. Thus, the Court upheldhis death sentence on 03/20/03.
On 07/15/03, Lawrence filed a Petition for Writ ofCertiorari to the United States Supreme Court, which was denied on10/14/03.
On 9/10/04, Lawrence filed a 3.850 Motion to the CircuitCourt. The Motion was amended on 02/11/05, and was denied on 01/26/06.
On 02/22/06, Lawrence filed a 3.850 Appeal to the FloridaSupreme Court. On 11/01/07, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed theCircuit Court’s denial of Lawrence’s 3.850 appeal. The Mandate was issuedon 11/26/07.
On 06/14/06, Lawrence filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus tothe Florida Supreme Court, which was denied on 11/01/07. The Mandate wasissued on 11/26/07.
On 02/20/08, Lawrence filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus in theUnited States District Court, Northern District. This petition was deniedon 07/21/10.
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Report Date: 10/18/04 NRC
Approved: 10/18/04 JFL
Updated: 07/27/10 EMJ