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.
REESE, John Loveman (B/M)
DC # 123069
DOB: 03/29/65
Fourth Judicial Circuit, Duval County, Case #9204174
Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Henry W. Cook
Re-Sentencing Judge (1st and 2nd): The Honorable L.Page Haddock
Attorney, Trial (1st): Patrick McGuinness –Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Trial (2nd): Charles Coffer – Assistant PublicDefender
Attorney, Direct Appeal (1st and 2nd): Nada M. Carey –Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Frank Tassone, Jr. –Registry
Date of Offense: 01/28/92
Date of Sentence: 06/25/93
Date of Resentence: 07/16/97
Date of Resentence: 06/16/00
Circumstances of Offense:
John Loveman Reese was convicted and sentenced to death forthe murder of Sharlene Austin. Reese knew Austin through his sometimesgirlfriend, Jackie Grier, who had a close friendship with Austin. Reesehad previously expressed dislike and jealousy of Austin based on her closefriendship with Grier.
On 01/28/92, Sharlene Austin was found raped and murdered inher bedroom. Grier and a neighbor were concerned about not being able toget in touch with Austin and went to her home. They entered through anunlocked door and found Austin in the bedroom covered with a sheet. Thepolice found a print of Reese’s hand on the waterbed in Austin’s bedroom. Reese confessed to the crime when the police questioned him. He said thathe broke into Austin’s home and waited for her to come home. Four hourslater, when Austin did arrive home, Reese hid in the closet because he saidthat he was scared. He came out of the closet when Austin fell asleep onthe couch. According to Reese, he panicked because Austin started moving. He then dragged Austin into the bedroom, raped her, and then used an electricalcord to strangle her.
Trial Summary:
01/28/92 Reese was indicted on the following:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Sharlene Austin)
Count II: Sexual Battery
Count III: Burglary with Assault
Count IV: Kidnapping
03/25/93 Reese was found guilty on counts I, II and III; Count IV was dropped prior totrial.
03/25/93 Upon advisory sentencing, the jury, by an 8 to 4 majority, voted for the deathpenalty.
06/25/93 Reese was sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Sharlene Austin) – Death
Count II: Sexual Battery – 22years less 1 year and 71 days for time served
Count III: Burglary with Assault – 22years less 1 year and 71 days for time served
03/20/97 FSC affirmed the conviction, but remanded the case to the trial court for a newsentencing order.
07/16/97 Reese was re-sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Sharlene Austin) – Death
02/18/99 FSC remanded the case to the trial court for a revised sentencing order.
06/16/00 Reese was re-sentenced as follows:
Count I: First-Degree Murder (Sharlene Austin) – Death
Appeals Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (First)
FSC #82,119
694 So. 2d 678 (Fla. 1997)
07/23/93 Appeal filed.
03/20/97 FSC affirmed the conviction, but remanded the case to the trial court for a newsentencing order.
05/27/97 Rehearing denied.
06/26/97 Mandate issued.
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (Second)
FSC #91,411
728 So. 2d 727 (Fla. 2000)
09/18/97 Appeal filed.
02/18/99 FSC remanded the case to the trial court for a revised sentencing order.
08/17/00 FSC affirmed the sentence.
10/11/00 Rehearing denied.
11/13/00 Mandate issued.
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofCertiorari
USSC #00-7844
121 S. Ct. 1239 (U.S. 2001)
01/08/01 Motion filed.
03/09/01 USSC denied the motion.
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC # 9204174
09/27/01 Motion filed.
02/26/02 Motion dismissed.
04/01/02 Amended motion filed.
03/03/04 Amended motion filed.
06/28/07 Motion denied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC# 07-1309
14 So.3d 913
07/13/07 Appeal filed.
12/04/08 Oral Arguments held.
03/26/09 Conviction and sentence affirmed.
07/22/09 Mandate issued.
United States District Court, Middle District–Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus
USDC# 09-01145
(Pending)
11/20/09 Petition filed
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Execution ofSentence:
The delay in execution was related to the Florida Supreme Courtremanding the case to the trial court for a revised sentencing order on thefirst Direct Appeal. There, however, was confusion in the sentencingdirections. The case was remanded a second time to the trial court withnew directions for revising the sentencing order.
Case Information:
On 07/23/93, Reese raised several issues during his firstDirect Appeal. Three issues were raised about the guilt portion of thetrial. The first issue was that there was a Richardson violation, aviolation of discovery rules, when defense counsel was not provided with awitness’s statement by the state. The second issue was that defense’scross-examination of Grier should not have been limited. The final issuereferring to the guilt phase of the trial was that Reese should have beenallowed to testify on redirect examination about his offer to plead. TheFlorida Supreme Court did not find an error upon which to base a reversalwithin the guilt portion of the trial.
Reese raised several issues referring to the penalty portionof the trial. The first issue was that there was an error in the juryinstructions and the finding of the homicide being cold, calculated, andpremeditated. The next issue was that there was an error made in notproperly handling unrebutted mitigation. The third issue was that thesentence was not proportionate to the crime committed. The fourth issuewas that the closing argument made by the state was misleading. The finalissue raised was that the jury instructions were not constitutional. On03/20/97, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, but remanded thecase to the trial court for a new sentencing order. On 07/16/97, Reesewas sentenced to death.
On 09/18/97, Reese filed a second Direct Appeal in theFlorida Supreme Court. Reese raised several issues during his secondDirect Appeal. One issue was that the court erred in not accepting themitigating factors presented by Reese. Another issue was that cold,calculated, and premeditated aggravators should not have been found and thejury instructions were unconstitutional. A final issue was that thesentence of capital punishment was not proportionate with the crimecommitted. The Florida Supreme Court did not find these issues to warranta reversal of the conviction or sentence.
The Florida Supreme Court, however, found that there hadbeen confusion regarding their instructions involving the remand of the case tothe trial court for a new sentencing order. On 02/18/99, the FloridaSupreme Court clarified their instructions and remanded the case to the trialcourt for a revised sentencing order. On 06/16/00, the Duval CountyCircuit Court sentenced John Reese to death. On 08/17/00, The FloridaSupreme Court affirmed the sentence.
Reese filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the UnitedStates Supreme Court on 01/08/01. The petition was denied on 03/09/01.
Reese filed a 3.850 Motion in the Duval County Circuit Courton 09/27/01. The petition was dismissed on 02/26/02. Reese filedAmended 3.850 Motions on 04/01/02 and 03/03/04. The Order denying themotion was issued on 06/28/07.
On 07/13/07, Reese filed a 3.850 Appeal in the FloridaSupreme Court. Oral Arguments were held on 12/04/08. On 03/26/09,the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of death. Amandate was issued on 07/22/09.
On 11/20/09, Reese filed a Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus in the United States District Court, Middle District. This case iscurrently pending.
Institutional Adjustment:
| DATE | DAYS | VIOLATION | LOCATION |
| 06/21/94 | 0 | PART. IN RIOTS | UNION C. I. |
| 03/26/97 | 180 | UNAUTH USE OF DRUGS | UNION C. I. |
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Report Date: 12/14/01 S.Q.
Approved: 12/21/01 W.S.
Updated: 01/21/10 EMJ