The Commission on Capital Cases updates thisinformation regularly. This information, however, is subject to change and maynot reflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied uponfor statistical or legal purposes.
HOWELL, Paul (B/M)
DC # 123792
DOB: 06/25/65
Second Judicial Circuit, Jefferson County, Case # 92-22
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable F. E. Steinmeyer
Trial Attorney: Frank Sheffield – Private
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Robert A. Norgard – Private
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Clyde Taylor – Registry
Date of Offense: 02/01/92
Date of Sentence: 01/10/95
Circumstances of the Offense:
Paul Howell made a bomb in January of 1992 for the specificpurpose of murdering Tammie Bailey at her Marianna, Florida, home. Howell, Bailey and Howell’s brother, Patrick, were involved in a drug ring thattransported drugs from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to be sold in Marianna. Bailey could link Howell and his brother to a prior murder; therefore, Howellintended to eliminate Bailey as a witness. After constructing the bomb,Howell placed it in a microwave oven and wrapped it so that it looked like apresent. Howell commissioned Lester Watson to drive to Bailey’s house anddeliver the present. Watson had knowledge that Howell made pipe bombs;however, he suspected that drugs were in the microwave. Watson drove in acar rented by Howell and was accompanied by Curtis Williams.
Trooper Jimmy Fulford stopped Watson for speeding on I-10 onhis way to Marianna. Fulford ran a registration check, but when he askedfor Watson’s license, Watson gave him a false name and date of birth due to hislack of a valid driver’s license. When Fulford called into dispatch, theyrelayed to him that the car had been rented to Howell. Dispatch contactedHowell who, when asked if the rental car was stolen, relayed that he had loanedthe vehicle to Watson, but claimed he was unaware that he would traveling sofar from his home in Ft. Lauderdale. Dispatch told Howell that Watsonwould be taken to the Jefferson County Jail; however, Howell did not give anyindication to dispatch that there was a bomb in the car.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department deputies Harrell andBlount arrived at the scene and were granted permission by Watson to search thecar. The deputies and Trooper Fulford noticed the gift-wrapped package inthe trunk. Watson was arrested for driving without a valid license andspeeding. The deputies took him, along with Williams, to the jail. Trooper Fulford was left alone with the car and, shortly thereafter, there wasa massive explosion at the scene. The State’s explosive expert testifiedat trial that Fulford was holding the package when the bomb detonated. Fulford’s instantaneous death was a direct result of massive trauma from theexplosion.
Howell was arrested and charged with the murder of TrooperFulford and the venue of the trial was transferred from Jefferson County toEscambia County.
Codefendant Information:
Lester Watson, the driver of the vehicle, was convicted ofSecond-Degree Murder and sentenced to 40 years in prison. The defendant’sbrother, Patrick Howell, is serving a life sentence without eligibility ofparole for 25 years for his involvement in the murder.
Trial Summary:
02/19/92 Defendant indicted with the following:
Count I: First-Degree Murder
Count II: Making,Possessing, Placing, or Discharging a
DestructiveDevice
Count III: Making, Possessing,Placing, or Discharging a
DestructiveDevice
Count IV: Possession of an ExplosiveDevice
10/21/94 The jury recommended Death bya vote of 10 to 2 for both Counts I and II
01/10/95 Defendant was sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-DegreeMurder –Death
Count II: Making,Possessing, Placing, or Discharging a
DestructiveDevice – Death
Count III: Making, Possessing,Placing, or Discharging a
DestructiveDevice – Nolle Prosequi
Count IV: Possession of an ExplosiveDevice – Nolle Prosequi
Appeal Summary:
Florida State Supreme Court – Direct Appeal
FSC #85,193
707 So. 2d 674
02/20/95 Appeal filed.
02/12/98 FSC affirmed the conviction and sentence.
03/16/98 Mandate issued.
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC #97-9042
524 U.S. 958
05/11/98 Petition filed.
06/26/98 Petition denied.
State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC #92-22
08/30/99 Motion filed.
01/02/03 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #SC03-103
877 So. 2d 697
01/22/03 Appeal filed.
05/06/04 FSC affirmed denial of 3.850 Motion.
06/25/04 Rehearing denied.
07/26/04 Mandate issued.
U.S. District Court. Northern District – Petition forWrit of Habeas Corpus
USDC# 04-299
07/26/04 Petition filed.
12/01/04 USDC dismissed Petition.
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit –Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Appeal
USCA# 04-16542
415 F. 3d 1250
12/22/04 Appeal filed.
07/06/05 USCA affirmed dismissal of Petition.
08/16/05 Mandate issued.
U.S. Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of Certiorari
USSC# 05-7406
126 S. Ct. 1059
10/28/05 Petition filed.
01/09/06 USSC denied petition.
Case Information:
A Direct Appeal was filed on 02/20/95. Issues that wereraised included whether the trial court erred in refusing to appoint alternatecounsel and in refusing to appoint a second attorney and whether the trialcourt erred in allowing several of the statutory aggravating circumstances thatthe trial court found applicable to the murder. The Florida Supreme Courtfound all of these claims either without merit or harmless and affirmed theconviction and sentence of death on 02/12/98.
A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed on 05/11/98 anddenied on 06/26/98.
A 3.850 motion was filed with the circuit court on 08/30/99and denied on 01/02/03.
A 3.850 Appeal was filed with the Florida Supreme Court on01/22/03, citing allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel and Ringclaims. On 05/06/04, the denial of the 3.850 Motion was affirmed.
A Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus was filed with the U.S.District Court, Northern District on 07/26/04 that was dismissed on12/01/04.
A Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Appeal was filed withthe U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit on 12/22/04. On07/08/05, the USCA affirmed the dismissal of the Petition.
A Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed with the U.S.Supreme Court on 10/28/05 and was denied on 01/09/06.
Institutional Adjustment:
THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES REFLECTDISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST THE INMATE
FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULECITED AND INDICATE THE GAIN TIME DAYS LOST.
DATE DAYS VIOLATION LOCATION
05/17/00 0 UNARMED ASSAULT UNION C.I.
Report Date: 01/08/02 cc
Approved: 01/24/02 ws
Updated: 03/16/07 jfl