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. 

GRIFFIN, Michael A. (W/M)

DC#    182543

DOB: 03/27/70

Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Dade County Case #90-16875-C

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Arthur Snyder

Attorney, Trial: Andrew Kassier –Private

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Andrew Kassier– Special Assistant Public Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  Terri Backhus – Private

Date of Offense:        04/27/90

Date of Sentence:       03/07/91

Circumstances of Offense:

On 04/27/93, Michael Griffin, Samuel Velez, and Nicholas Tarallo decided to commit a burglary.  They left Tarallo’s apartment in Griffin’s father’s Cadillac anddrove to the location of a Chrysler LeBaron, wherethey switched cars.  Griffin had previously stolen the LeBaron,which had been used in prior burglaries. 

The three proceeded to search for an appropriate target,finally arriving at a Holiday Inn in Newport, Florida, where Griffin had priorsuccessful burglaries.  Griffin and Velez entered a hotel room and stole acellular phone and purse.  Tarallo drove whileGriffin and Velez divided up the stolen property. 

After leaving the Holiday Inn, the three observed a policecar.  Griffin panicked and told Tarallo to evadethe police car.  During these maneuvers, another police car, driven byOfficers Martin and Crespo, spotted the LeBaron and followed.  Tarallotried to pull over, but Griffin stated that he would not go back to jail andordered Tarallo to continue evading the police. Tarallo eventually pulled over, and as the threeattempted to escape, Griffin began shooting at the police, killing OfficerMartin.  Tarallo and Velez surrendered toOfficer Crespo, while Griffin fled in the LeBaron and was eventually apprehended. 

Codefendant Information:

Tarallo, in exchange fortestifying for the State, pled guilty to Second-Degree Murder, AttemptedFirst-Degree Murder, Burglary, and two counts of Grand Theft.  He wassentenced to thirty years in prison. 

Velez was convicted of Manslaughter, Attempted Manslaughter,Armed Burglary, and two counts of Grand Theft.  He was sentenced to lifein prison. 

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

Prior Community Supervision History in the State ofFlorida:

Trial Summary:

05/02/90         Indicted as follows:

CountI            First-Degree Murder (Martin)

CountII          Armed Burglary

CountIII         Grand Theft

CountIV         Grand Theft Auto

CountV          Aggravated Assault (Crespo)

CountVI         Petty Theft

CountVII       Possession of a Firearm by a Felon

12/13/90         State nolle prossed CountsV & VI

Presentedinformation charging one count of Attempted First-Degree

Murder (Crespo)

Count VII severed

02/08/91         Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

02/14/91         Jury recommended death by a vote of 10-2

03/07/91         Sentenced as follows:

CountI            First-Degree Murder (Martin) – Death

CountII          Armed Burglary – LifeImprisonment

CountIII         Grand Theft – 5 years

CountIV         Grand Theft Auto – 5 years

CountV          Attempted First-DegreeMurder (Crespo) – Life

Imprisonment

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 77,843

639 So. 2d 966

04/30/91         Appeal filed

07/07/94         FSC affirmed convictions and sentences

08/08/94         Mandate issued

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

USSC# 94-7530

514 U.S. 1005

01/04/95         Petition filed

03/06/95         USSC denied Petition

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

03/19/97         Motion filed

10/29/98         Motion amended

12/10/99         Motion amended

05/05/00         Circuit Court summarily denied all but two issues and ordered an

evidentiaryhearing held on those issues

01/11/01         Circuit Court denied remaining issues

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Motion Appeal

FSC# 01-457

866 So. 2d 1

02/28/01         Appeal filed

09/25/03         FSC affirmed denial of 3.850 Motion

01/29/04         Rehearing denied

03/01/04         Mandate issued

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

06/23/03         Motion filed

07/01/03         State motion to dismiss filed

10/17/03         Circuit Court granted motion to dismiss

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

USSC# 04-6035

543 U.S. 962

06/24/04         Petition filed

11/01/04         USSC denied Petition

U.S. District Court, Southern District – Petition forWrit of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 04-21643

07/07/04         Petition filed

04/19/05         USDC dismissed Petition without prejudice

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Motion Appeal

FSC# 04-1522

No Opinion Issued

08/02/04         Appeal filed

01/20/05         FSC affirmed denial of motion

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

03/18/05         Motion filed

04/29/05         CC denied motion

Circuit Court – 3.851 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

05/22/06         Motion filed

07/20/06         CC denied motion

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Motion Appeal

FSC# 06-1055

992 So. 2d 819

05/08/06         Appeal filed

09/11/06         Appeal filed

06/02/08         Appeal denied

United States District Court, Southern District –Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

USDC# 08-22817

10/08/08         Petition filed

10/15/09         Petition denied

United States Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit – HabeasAppeal

USCA# 09-15863

11/30/09         Appeal filed

01/07/10         COA denied

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 90-16875-C

(Pending)

11/29/10          Motionfiled

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:

The Direct Appeal was pending from 04/30/91 – 08/08/94 andthe 3.850 Motion was pending from 03/19/97 – 01/11/01.   

Case Information:

Griffin filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Courton 04/30/91, citing the following errors: allowing admission evidence of priorcriminal acts at trial, restricting nonstatutorymitigating evidence, and the finding of certain aggravating factors (murdercommitted during a felony and cold, calculated, and premeditated murder). On 07/07/94, the FSC affirmed the convictions and sentences. 

Griffin filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with theU.S. Supreme Court on 01/04/95 that was denied on 03/06/95. 

Griffin filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court that wasamended on 10/29/98 and 12/10/99.  On 05/05/00, the Circuit Courtsummarily denied all but two issues and ordered an evidentiary hearing to beheld on Griffin’s allegations of ineffective assistance of counsel and ex-partecommunications between the State and trial judge concerning the sentencingorder.  During September and October of 2000, the evidentiary hearing washeld, and on 01/11/01, the Circuit Court denied the remaining issues of the3.850 Motion. 

Griffin filed a 3.850 Motion Appeal with the Florida SupremeCourt on 02/28/01, citing twenty-one issues, most of which focused onallegations of ineffective assistance of counsel.   On 09/25/03, theFSC affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion. 

Griffin filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on06/23/03.  The State filed a motion to dismiss on 07/01/03 that wasgranted on 10/17/03.

Griffin filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with theU.S. Supreme Court on 06/24/04 that was denied on 11/01/04.

Griffin filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theU.S. District Court, Southern District, on 07/07/04.  On 04/19/05, theUSDC dismissed the Petition without prejudice.    

Griffin filed a 3.851 Motion Appeal with the Florida SupremeCourt on 08/02/04.  On 01/20/05, the FSC affirmed the denial of the 3.851Motion. 

Griffin filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on03/18/05 that was denied on 04/29/05.    

Griffin filed a 3.851 Motion with the Circuit Court on05/22/06 that was denied on 07/20/06.    

Griffin filed a Petition for 3.851 Motion Appeal with theFlorida Supreme Court on 05/08/06 & 09/11/06 that was denied on 06/02/08.

Griffin filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theU.S. District Court, Southern District, on 10/08/08 that was denied on10/15/09.

Griffin filed a Habeas Petition with the U.S. Court ofAppeals, Eleventh Circuit, on 11/30/09. On 01/07/10, the Certificate of Appealability was denied.

Griffin filed a 3.850 motion with the Circuit Court on11/29/10. That motion is pending.

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       

08/12/91    10                    DISORDERLY CONDUCT              FLORIDA STATEPRISON

05/18/92     0                     ATTEMPT TOCONSPIRE              FLORIDA STATE PRISON

09/08/93     0                     DISORDERLY CONDUCT              UNION C. I.         

04/19/94     0                     DEST. OF ST.PROP.                         UNION C. I.         

07/15/94     0                     DISORDERLY CONDUCT              UNION C. I.         

07/16/94     0                     SPOKENTHREATS                          UNION C.I.         

11/07/94     0                     DISORDERLY CONDUCT              UNION C. I.         

12/24/94     0                     POSS OFCONTRABAND                UNION C. I.         

03/01/96     0                     DISRESP.TOOFFICIALS                UNION C. I.         

03/01/96     0                     DISOBEYINGORDER                     UNION C. I.         

10/29/97     0                     FIGHTING                                  UNIONC. I.         

05/30/99     0                     POSS OFCONTRABAND                UNION C. I.         

04/07/03    60                    DISRESP.TOOFFICIALS                UNION C. I.      

03/30/05   759                  POSS OF ESCAPE PARA.                UNION C. I.

________________________________________________________________________

Report Date:  12/18/03          JFL

Approved:      12/31/03          WS

Updated:        11/29/10          JJK