The Commission on Capital Cases updates this informationregularly.  This information; however, is subject to change and may notreflect the latest status of an inmate’s case and should not be relied upon forstatistical or legal purposes. 

HUGGINS, John (W/M)

DC#    059121

DOB:  02/16/62

­­­Ninth Judicial Circuit, Orange County Case # 98-7190

Sentencing Judge: The Honorable Belvin Perry, Jr.

Attorney, Trial: Bob Wesley & Tyrone King – PublicDefender & Asst. Public Defender

Attorney, Direct Appeal: Christopher Quarles – AssistantPublic Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals: Eric Pinkard & DavidGemmer– CCRC-M

Date of Offense:        06/10/97

Date of Sentence:      02/26/99

Date of Sentence:       09/19/02

Circumstances of Offense:

On the morning of 06/10/97, Carla Larson took her daughterto day care and went to work.  Prior to lunch, Larson told a coworker thatshe was going to a grocery store to pick up food for an afternoonmeeting.  A receipt indicated that she purchased food, but Larson neverreturned to work.  Numerous witnesses saw a Ford Explorer sport utilityvehicle (SUV) that matched a description of Larson’s SUV in a wooded area offthe Osceola Parkway. 

Two days later, while being led by witnesses who saw the SUVin the woods, coworkers found the body of Larson.  The cause of death wasstrangulation and Larson’s jewelry, clothing, and purse were missing. 

On the day of Larson’s disappearance, John Huggins, his wifeAngel and their five children were visiting the Orlando area.  JohnHuggins’ mother-in-law, Fay Blades, testified at trial that, when she came homefrom work on 06/10/97, she noticed an unfamiliar, white SUV in hercarport.  Blades’ neighbors also noticed a white, Ford SUV in Blades’carport, but noted that the vehicle was spray-painted black later in theweek. 

On 06/26/97, police were called to investigate a burning truckon a vacant lot in Cocoa Beach.  An investigation revealed the truck wasLarson’s white Ford Explorer SUV, which had been partially painted black. 

On 06/27/97, John Huggins fled Florida with hissister-in-law, with whom he had begun a relationship.  Shortly thereafter,Angel Huggins saw a television show, America’s Most Wanted, which featuredLarson’s murder.  Angel Huggins suspected her husband of committing themurder and called police.  In late June and July 1997, police conductedthree searches of Blades’ house and a shed on her property, but noincriminating evidence was found.  Blades conducted a search of her ownand found jewelry, later found to belong to Larson, hidden in her shed. 

Additional Information:

Huggins was declared incompetent on 11/27/06.

Current Prison History:

Prior Incarceration History in the State of Florida:

Trial Summary:

05/28/98         Indicted as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder

                                   Count II:         Carjacking

                                   Count III:        Robbery

Count IV:        Kidnapping

12/28/98         Trial venue changed to Duval County

02/03/99         Jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts of the indictment

02/10/99         Jury recommended death by a vote of 8-4

02/26/99         Sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder – Death

                                   Count II:         Carjacking – 30 Years

                                   Count III:        Robbery – Life

Count IV:       Kidnapping – Life

04/11/02         Retrial venue changed to Hillsborough County

07/25/02         Jury returned guilty verdicts on all Counts I, II, and IV, and the lesserincluded charge of Petit Theft for Count III

07/26/02         Jury recommended death by a vote of 9-3

09/19/02         Sentenced as follows:

                                   Count I:          First-Degree Murder – Death

                                   Count II:         Carjacking – 30 Years

                                   Count III:        Petit Theft – 60 Days

Count IV:        Kidnapping –Life

Appeal Summary:

Circuit Court – Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

CC# 98-7190

03/25/99         Petition filed

05/21/99         Evidentiary Hearing held

07/21/99         Circuit Court granted Petition and ordered a retrial

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 95,251

889 So. 2d 743

04/05/99         Appeal filed

08/09/99         Motion to dismiss filed

07/13/00         FSC granted motion and Direct Appeal dismissed

Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ of HabeasCorpus Appeal (State)

FSC# 96,216

788 So. 2d 238

08/09/99         Appeal filed

06/07/01         FSC affirmed granting of Petition

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (after retrial)

FSC# 02-2364

889 So. 2d 743

10/31/02         Appeal filed

12/02/04         FSC affirmed convictions and sentences

12/22/04         Mandate issued

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

USSC# 04-9512

545 U.S. 1107

03/22/05         Petition filed

06/06/05         USSC denied Petition

Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 98-7190

06/05/06         Motion filed

11/27/06         Huggins declared incompetent. 

10/17/07         Order for competency re-evaluation.

12/07/10         Appeal filed.

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Appeal

FSC# 08-1022

06/06/08         Appeal filed

03/10/09         Voluntarily dismissed

Florida Supreme Court – Petition to Review Non-FinalOrder and to Stay Proceedings in Lower Court (3.851)

FSC# 09-2097

11/16/09         Petition filed

01/17/10         Petition dismissed

Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal

FSC# 11-219

(Pending)

02/02/11         Appeal filed

Factors Contributing to the Delay in Imposition ofSentence:

The delay in the case stems from the Brady violation by theState and the subsequent retrial. 

Case Information:

Huggins filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus with theCircuit Court on 03/25/99, alleging a Brady violation by the State.  On05/21/99, an Evidentiary Hearing was held, and, on 07/21/99, the Circuit Courtgranted the petition.  A retrial was ordered in the case. 

Huggins filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Courton 04/05/99.  On 08/09/99, a Motion to Dismiss was filed and the appealwas dismissed on 07/13/00. 

On 08/09/99, the State filed an appeal of the granting ofthe Habeas Petition by the Circuit Court.  On 06/07/01, the FSC affirmedthe granting of the petition. 

Huggins filed a Direct Appeal with the Florida Supreme Courton 10/31/02, alleging the following trial court errors: admitting certainevidence and testimony, granting a juror challenge, admitting prejudicialevidence, introducing medical examiner’s testimony, admitting victim evidenceand victim-impact evidence, denying a motion for acquittal, denying a requestfor a jury instruction regarding circumstantial evidence, denying motions todisqualify the prosecutor, finding aggravating circumstances, sentencing basedon a disproportionate penalty, and Ring claims.  On 12/02/04, the FSCaffirmed the convictions and sentences. 

Huggins filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with theU.S. Supreme Court on 03/22/05 that was denied on 06/06/05.

Huggins filed a 3.850 Motion with the Circuit Court on06/05/06 that was denied on 11/18/10.  On 12/07/10, Huggins filed anappeal.

Huggins was declared incompetent on 11/27/06.  An orderfor competency re-evaluation was ordered on 10/17/07.

Huggins filed a 3.851 Petition with the Florida SupremeCourt on 06/06/08.  The Florida Supreme Court has ordered a stay of allproceedings pending disposition of this petition.  This petition wasvoluntarily dismissed on 03/10/09. The stay was vacated on 03/25/09.

On 11/16/09, Huggins filed a Petition with the FloridaSupreme Court to Review Non-Final Order and to Stay Proceedings in Lower Court(3.851). This petition was dismissed on 01/27/10.

On 02/02/11, Huggins filed a 3.850 Appeal with the FloridaSupreme Court.  This appeal is currently pending.

Institutional Adjustment:

THE FOLLOWING ENTRIES REFLECT DISCIPLINARY ACTIONSAGAINST THE INMATE FOR VIOLATION OF THE RULE CITED AND INDICATE THE GAIN TIMEDAYS LOST.

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Report Date:  02/11/05          JFL

Updated:        02/22/11         CAR