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
ROBINSON, Johnny L. (B/M)
DOB: 07/25/52
Seventh Judicial Circuit, St. Johns County, Case #85-1299CF
Sentencing and Re-sentencing Judge: The Honorable Richard O.Watson
Attorney, Trial (1st and 2nd): HowardPearl – Assistant Public Defender
Attorney, Direct Appeal: Christopher Quayles – AssistantPublic Defender
Attorneys, Collateral Appeals: Peter Cannon & DaphneyGaylord – CCRC-M
Date of Offense: 08/12/85
Date of Sentence: 06/19/86
Date of Resentence: 04/04/89
Circumstances of Offense:
Johnny Robinson was convicted and sentenced to death for themurder of Beverly St. George.
Johnny Robinson and Clinton Fields, his codefendant, werearrested on 08/17/85 for the murder of Beverly St. George. Robinson waived hisrights and gave a sworn statement to police officials. Robinson said that heand Fields left a party on 08/11/85 shortly before midnight to go to Orlando and see Robinson’s girlfriend. They saw a car on the side of the road and stoppedto help. The woman had been resting. According to Robinson, St. George agreedto go with Robinson and Fields in their car to Pellicer Cemetery. Robinsonsaid that he and St. George had consensual sex on the hood of his car. Duringthis sexual activity, he took the gun out of his pocket and placed it on the carhood. A struggle occurred between the two and the gun accidentally went offhitting St. George in the face. Robinson said that he shot her again becausehe did not think that people would believe that it was an accident.
Fields testified at Robinson’s trial and gave a differentaccount. He said that they saw the car stopped on the side of the road. According to Fields, Robinson forced St. George into the car at gunpoint andthen handcuffed her. Robinson raped St. George once they got to Pellicer Cemetery and then forced Fields to do the same. According to Fields, Robinsonsaid that St. George could not identify them if she was dead and then shot herin the side of the face.
Additional Information:
Co-Defendant Status:
Clinton Fields St. Johns County #85-1417
Clinton B. Fields was sentenced to Life for First-DegreeMurder, 17 years for Kidnapping, 7 years for Robbery with a Deadly Weapon, and22 years for Sexual Battery with a Deadly Weapon.
Previous Criminal History:
In 1979, Robinson was convicted of Rape in the state of Maryland and sentenced to ten years. He was on parole at the time of the rape and murderof Beverly St. George.
Trial Summary:
08/17/85 Robinsonwas arrested.
11/06/85 Robinsonwas indicted on the following:
CountI: First-Degree Murder (BeverlySt. George)
CountII: Kidnapping
CountIII: Armed Robbery
CountIV: Sexual Battery
05/29/86 Juryfound Robinson guilty for each count of the indictment.
05/30/86 Upon advisory sentencing, thejury, by a 9 to 3 majority, voted for the death penalty.
06/06/86 Robinsonwas sentenced as follows:
CountII: Kidnapping – Life, less274 days for time served
Count III: Armed Robbery – Life, less 274 days for time served
CountIV: Sexual Battery – Life, less274 days for time served
06/19/86 Robinson was sentenced as follows:
CountI: First-Degree Murder (BeverlySt. George) – Death
02/15/89 On remand from the Florida SupremeCourt for a new sentencing hearing, the jury, by an 8 to 4 majority, voted forthe death penalty.
04/04/89 Robinson was sentenced as follows:
CountI: First-Degree Murder (BeverlySt. George) – Death
Count II: Kidnapping – Life, less 1306 days for time served
Count III: Armed Robbery – Life, less 1306 days for time served
Count IV: Sexual Battery – Life, less 1306 days for time served
Appeals Summary:
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (First)
FSC #68,971
520 So. 2d (Fla. 1988)
06/27/86 Appealfiled.
01/28/88 FSC affirmed the conviction, butreversed the sentence of death and remanded to the trial court for a newsentencing hearing.
03/09/88 Mandateissued.
Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal (Second)
FSC #74,113
574 So. 2d 108 (Fla. 1991)
05/03/89 Appealfiled.
01/15/91 FSCaffirmed the conviction and sentence.
02/27/91 Rehearingdenied.
04/01/91 Mandateissued.
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writof Certiorari
USSC #90-8277
502 U.S. 841 (U.S. 1991)
06/18/91 Petitionfiled.
10/07/91 USSCdenied the petition.
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC #85-1299CF
05/17/93 Motionfiled.
06/08/95 Motiondenied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #86,136
707 So. 2d 688 (Fla. 1998)
07/24/95 Appealfiled.
02/12/98 FSCaffirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion.
04/01/98 Rehearingdenied.
05/01/98 Mandateissued.
Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofHabeas Corpus
FSC #95,336
773 So. 2d 1 (Fla. 2000)
04/15/99 Petitionfiled.
08/31/00 FSCdenied the petition.
United States District Court, Middle – Petitionfor Writ of Habeas Corpus
USDC #99-00415-CV-J-10
04/30/99 Petitionfiled.
06/27/01 Petitiondenied.
United States Court of Appeals, 11thCircuit – Habeas Appeal
USCA #01-14273
300 F.3d 1320 (U.S. 2002)
07/27/01 Appealfiled.
08/08/02 USCAaffirmed the denial of the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus.
Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion
CC #85-1299CF
01/12/04 Motionfiled.
01/19/04 Motiondenied.
Circuit Court – 3.853 (DNA) Motion
CC #85-1299CF
01/19/04 Motionfiled.
01/19/04 Motiondenied.
Florida Supreme Court – 3.850 Appeal
FSC #04-46
865 So.2d 1259 (U.S. 2004)
01/20/04 Appealfiled.
01/29/04 Denialof 3.850 affirmed.
01/29/04 Mandateissued.
Florida Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofHabeas Corpus
FSC #04-64
865 So.2d 1259 (U.S. 2004)
01/23/04 Petitionfiled.
01/29/04 Petitiondenied.
01/29/04 Mandateissued.
United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writof Certiorari and Application for
Stay of Execution
USSC #03-8673
124 S.Ct. 1196 (U.S. 2004)
02/02/04 Petitionfor Writ of Certiorari filed.
Applicationfor stay of execution filed.
02/04/04 USSCdenied the Petition for Writ of Certiorari.
Applicationfor stay of execution filed.
Warrants
12/18/03 Death Warrant signed by GovernorBush.
01/19/04 Stay of execution denied by theCircuit Court.
02/02/04 Application for stay of execution filedwith the United States Supreme Court. (Denied 02/04/04)
02/04/04 Execution date set.
Factors Contributing to the Delay in Execution ofSentence:
On Direct Appeal, thecase was remanded for a new sentencing hearing. The 3.850 Appeal was pendingfor nearly three years prior to being denied.
Case Information:
Johnny Robinson filed hisfirst Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 06/27/86. The issuesaddressed included that the trial court erred in holding parts of the trialwhile the defendant was not present, in not allowing Robinson to claimvoluntary intoxication as a mitigating factor, and in reprimanding defensecounsel during closing arguments. The Florida Supreme Court did not finderrors warranting the reversal of the conviction. The Florida Supreme Courtreversed the sentence because the prosecutor improperly argued that thedefendant showed no remorse, which was a non-statutory aggravating factor andbecause the state introduced racial bias into the proceedings by the prosecutorasking a witness if the defendant, a black man, was prejudiced against whitepeople. The victim was a white woman. On 01/28/88, the Florida Supreme Courtaffirmed the conviction, but remanded the case to the trial court for a newsentencing hearing. A mandate was issued on 03/09/88.
On remand from theFlorida Supreme Court for a new sentencing hearing, Robinson was sentenced toDeath on 04/04/89.
Johnny Robinson filed hissecond Direct Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court on 05/03/89. The issuesaddressed included that the trial court erred in its instructions to the jury,in not permitting Robinson to establish voluntary intoxication at the time ofthe incident, and that the death sentence was not proportionate to the crimecommitted. The Florida Supreme Court did not find errors that warrantedreversing the conviction or sentence and affirmed the conviction and sentenceon 01/15/91. Rehearing was denied on 02/27/91. A mandate was issued on04/01/91.
On 06/18/91, Robinsonfiled a Petition for Writ of Certiorari in the United States Supreme Court. The petition was denied on 10/07/91.
Robinson filed a 3.850Motion in the circuit court on 05/17/93. The Motion was denied on 06/08/95.
On 07/24/95, Robinsonfiled a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court. The issues included thatthe trial court erred in denying Robison’s claim of newly discovered evidence,denying Robinson’s Bradyand Giglioclaims, denying claims of ineffective counsel, and determining that Robinson’srace discrimination claim was procedurally barred. The appeal was denied on02/12/98. Rehearing was denied on 04/01/98. A mandate was issued on 05/01/98.
Robinson filed a Petitionfor Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court on 04/15/99. Thepetition was denied on 08/31/00. Rehearing was denied on 12/08/00. A mandatewas issued on 04/01/91.
On 04/30/99, Robinsonfiled a Federal Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus in the United StatesDistrict Court. The petition was denied on 06/27/01.
On 07/27/01, Robinsonfiled a Habeas Appeal in the United States Court of Appeal. The United StatesCourt of Appeal affirmed the denial of the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpuson 08/08/02.
Robinson filed a 3.850Motion in the circuit court on 01/12/04. The motion was denied on 01/19/04.
Robinson filed a 3.853 (DNA)Motion in the circuit court on 01/19/04. The motion was denied on 01/19/04.
On 01/20/04, Robinsonfiled a 3.850 Appeal in the Florida Supreme Court. The issues included thatthe trial court erred in denying Robison’s claim of newly discovered evidence, denyingRobinson’s claim of racial bias, and denying Robinson’s motion for DNA testing. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed the denial of the 3.850 Motion and a mandatewas issued on 01/29/04.
Robinson filed a Petitionfor Writ of Habeas Corpus in the Florida Supreme Court on 01/23/04. Thepetition was denied and a mandate was issued on 01/29/04.
Robinson filed a Petitionfor Writ of Certiorari and an application for stay of execution on 02/02/04 inthe United States Supreme Court. The United States Supreme Court denied thePetition for Writ of Certiorari and the application for stay of execution on02/04/04.
Robinson was executed on02/04/04.
Institutional Adjustment:
NO DISCIPLINARYACTIONS
________________________________________________________________________
Report Date: 03/01/02 S.Q.
Approved: 05/01/02 W.S.
Updated: 02/05/04 S.Q.