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. 

KNIGHT, Ronald Alan (W/M)

DC#    610979

DOB:  06/26/68

­­­Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, Palm Beach County Case#97-5175 CF

Sentencing Judge:  The Honorable Edward A. Garrison

Attorneys, Trial:  Ann Perry & Jose Sosa –Assistant PublicDefenders                         

Attorney, Direct Appeal:  Curtis Levine – AssistantPublic Defender

Attorney, Collateral Appeals:  William Hennis, III –CCRC-S

Date of Offense: 07/08/93

Date of Sentence: 05/29/98

Circumstances of the Offense:

Ronald Knight was convicted for the murder of RichardKunkel, which occurred on 07/08/93.

Knight and two codefendants, Timothy Pearson and DainBrennault, decided to go to a gay bar, lure a man away from the bar, and thenbeat and rob him. The victim, Richard Kunkel, was invited to leave the bar andgo party with the defendants. Kunkel left the bar and followed the defendantsto Miami Subs in his own car. When they were finished eating, the defendantsconvinced Kunkel to leave his car there and ride with them to the party. Knightthen drove out to a secluded area where they stopped twice and got out of thecar to urinate. Before getting back into the car after their second stop,Knight pointed a gun at Kunkel and told him to turn around and take off hisjeans. As Kunkel was complying, Knight fired a single shot into Kunkel’s back.Kunkel then fell to the ground and began crying for help. Knight then toldPearson and Brennault to search Kunkel’s pockets. Pearson searched Kunkel’spockets, but Brennault refused. Knight and Pearson then dragged Kunkel’s bodyfrom the road to the side of a canal where he was left to die, and where hisbody was later discovered. Knight then threatened to kill Brennault and Pearsonif they told anyone about the murder. They returned to Miami Subs where Kunkelhad left his car. Knight then stole Kunkel’s car and took it for a joyride, andlater that night the three men burglarized Kunkel’s house.

When Brennault and Pearson were originally questioned by thepolice about the murder, they denied knowing anything about it, but both menlater confessed.  Knight bragged about the murder to Christopher Holt, wholater testified along with Brennault against him at trial.  JeffreyPearson, Timothy Pearson’s brother, also testified against Knight at trialusing statements made to him by Timothy Pearson.

Additional Information:

Knight was indicted and convicted in a nonjury trial. During the guilt phase of his trial, Knight represented himself,assisted by standby counsel, Mr. Sosa.

Codefendant Information:

Timothy Craig Pearson (DC# 197554)

Pearson was convicted for Accessory After the Fact and ArmedRobbery.  He was sentenced to three years for each offense (CC# 97-5175).

Dain Harold Brennault (DC# W04705)

Brennault was convicted for Accessory After the Fact for hisinvolvement.  He was sentenced to five years on probation (CC# 99-13031).

Evidence revealed that neither of the codefendants knewKnight planned to kill Kunkel.

Prior Incarceration History:

Trial Summary:

05/08/97         Indicted as follows:

CountI:           First-DegreeMurder

CountII:         Armed Robbery

CountIII:        Burglary

CountIV:        Grand Theft Auto (HateCrime)           

02/20/98         Knight waived his trial by jury.

05/29/98         Sentenced to death by the trial judge.

05/29/98         Sentenced as follows:

CountI:           First-DegreeMurder – Death

CountII:         Armed Robbery – 3 years

CountIII:        Burglary – 15 years

CountIV:        Grand Theft Auto (Hate Crime) – 5years

Appeal Summary:

Florida Supreme Court – Direct Appeal

FSC# 93,473

770 So.2d 663

07/17/98         Appeal filed

02/07/00         Convictions and sentences affirmed

12/13/00         Mandate issued

United States Supreme Court – Petition for Writ ofCertiorari 

USSC# 00-8756

532 U.S. 1011

03/08/01         Petition filed

04/30/01         Petition denied

State Circuit Court – 3.850 Motion

CC# 97-5175

09/27/01         Motion filed

06/03/04         Amended motion filed

10/19/10          Motion denied

Florida Supreme Court – Pro Se 3.850 Petition

FSC #07-2251

983 So.2d 1154

10/22/07         Petition filed

05/07/08         Dismissed voluntarily

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Appeal (Non-final)

FSC# 08-2241

30 So.3d 493

12/04/08         Petitionseeking review of non-final order filed

12/24/08         Properpetition filed

12/23/09          Petition dismissed

01/08/10          Motion for Rehearing filed

02/23/10          Motion denied

Florida Supreme Court – Habeas Petition

FSC# 08-2251

30 So.3d 493

12/05/08         Petitionfiled

12/12/09          Petition dismissed

01/08/10          Motion for Rehearing filed

02/23/10          Motion denied

Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Appeal (Non-final)

FSC# 09-265

19 So.3d 311

02/13/09         Petition seeking review of non-final order filed

03/13/09         Proper petition filed

09/14/09         Petition denied

 Florida Supreme Court – 3.851 Appeal (Non-final)

FSC# 09-2130

30 So.3d 493

11/09/09          Petition seeking review of non-final orderfiled

02/18/10          Petition denied

Case Information:

On 07/17/98, Knight filed a Direct Appeal to the FloridaSupreme Court.  The Court found that Knight knowingly and intelligentlywaived his appointed defense counsel, and that an inquiry was not required todetermine if counsel was incompetent before discharging them.  Afterdischarging the court-appointed counsel, the Court once again offeredassistance of court-appointed counsel at the beginning of the trial even thoughnot required to do so.  In addition, the Court also stated that Knight’sprior felony conviction could be used as an aggravating factor in sentencing.  TheCourt affirmed his conviction and sentence on 05/29/98.

Knight filed for Petition of Writ of Certiorari to theUnited States Supreme Court on 03/08/01, which was denied on 04/30/01.

Knight filed a 3.850 Motion to the Circuit Court on 09/27/01,which was amended on 06/03/04.  The motion was denied on 10/19/10.

On 10/22/07, Knight filed a Pro Se appeal petition in theFlorida Supreme Court seeking review of the non-final order in hispostconviction proceeding in the Circuit Court.  This petition wasdismissed voluntarily on 05/07/08.

On 12/04/08, Knight filed a petition seeking review of anon-final order in a death penalty proceeding in the Florida SupremeCourt.  On 12/24/08, Knight filed the proper petition seeking review of anon-final order in compliance with Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure9.142(b).  This petition was dismissed on 12/23/09. A motion for rehearingwas filed on 01/08/10. The motion was denied on 02/23/10.

On 12/05/08, Knight filed a Petition for Habeas Corpus inthe Florida Supreme Court, and it was dismissed on 12/23/09. A motion forrehearing was filed on 01/08/10. The motion was denied on 02/23/10.

On 02/13/09, Knight filed a petition seeking review of anon-final order in a death penalty proceeding in the Florida SupremeCourt.  On 03/13/09, Knight filed the proper petition seeking review of anon-final order in compliance with Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure9.142(b).  This petition was denied on 09/14/09.

Knight filed a petition seeking review of a non-final orderin a death penalty proceeding in the Florida Supreme Court on 11/09/09. Thispetition was denied on 02/18/10.

Institutional Adjustment:

DATE            DAYS          VIOLATION                                     LOCATION       

--------            ----             -----------------                               ------------------- 

07/29/96         0                   POSS OFNARCOTICS                  CENTRALOFFICE      

08/01/96         0                   DISOBEY REGULATIONS            CENTRALOFFICE      

09/26/96         0                   DEST. OF ST.PROP                          CENTRAL OFFICE      

06/05/00         180               UNARMEDASSAULT                     UNION C. I.         

02/27/02         30                 DISOBEYINGORDER                     UNION C. I.         

09/24/04         60                 DISRESP.TOOFFICIALS                UNION C. I.     

09/24/04         60                 DISRESP.TOOFFICIALS                UNION C.I.

08/06/05         30                 FAILURE TOCOMPLY                   UNION C.I.

________________________________________________________________________

Report Date   08/26/04         KB

Approved       08/26/04         JFL

Updated         10/26/10         EMJ